Author

Selina Hinchliffe

Author

Kerry Russell

+ 7 more authors
Published
8th December 2025

Contents

Summarise Blog

Unlocking clean energy innovation for the UK’s net zero future

The UK is at a critical crossroads in its net zero journey. As the global clean energy transition accelerates, breakthroughs in renewable technologies and the intellectual property (IP) behind them will determine whether Britain secures economic growth, energy security, and industrial resilience.

Our latest report, Unlocking Clean Energy Innovation, draws on two decades of global patent data and insights from leading investors and innovators. It reveals the technologies shaping the future, benchmarks the UK against international competitors, and exposes structural barriers slowing the scale-up of homegrown innovation.

Expert insight you can trust

This report has been authored by specialists in energy, intellectual property, and commercial law, including partners from Shakespeare Martineau’s energy and innovation teams. Their combined expertise spans clean tech investment, regulatory frameworks, and IP strategy and commercialisation of IP assets – ensuring recommendations are practical, actionable and grounded in real-world experience.

Why this matters

  • UK clean energy patent filings peaked at nearly 700 per year before falling sharply post-2020.
  • Hydrogen, grid innovation, and industrial energy efficiency critical to net zero, are losing momentum.
  • Germany and Sweden file three times more patents per GDP than the UK, while China and the US are pulling ahead.

Without decisive action, the UK risks becoming a buyer, not a builder, of clean energy technology.

What’s inside?

  • Two decades of global patent data visualised and analysed
  • Sector insights, including hydrogen, storage, grid, e-mobility, nuclear and more
  • Case studies showcasing UK projects driving the transition
  • Actionable recommendations to accelerate innovation and scale in the UK
  • Analysis of where the UK risks losing ground – and how to regain competitiveness

Why download this report?

With political consensus on net zero under strain, this report offers evidence-based insight and clear recommendations to restore clarity, consistency, and investment stability, ensuring the UK remains a predictable, attractive environment for clean energy innovation.

Download the report

Download the full report now to discover how the UK can turn world-class ideas into jobs, resilience, and leadership in the global race to net zero.

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About the Authors

Selina Hinchliffe

Partner & Head of Commercial Services

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In addition to her head of team role, Selina's own practice is in transactional and advisory IP matters advising across all IP rights. Her day-to-day activities include drafting and negotiating a range of agreements: including innovation R&D, sponsorship, merchandise, publishing agreements, technology transfer, IP licensing, securitisation of IP assets, IP reorganisations and transfers and manufacturing and collaboration agreements. In addition to her transactional experience, Selina advises on IP strategy and policy and regularly works on the IP aspects of wider commercial deals, corporate transactions, joint ventures and major projects work, including major IT projects. She has obtained the Postgraduate Diploma…
Kerry Russell

Partner

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Kerry advises on all types of intellectual property rights, with a particular specialism in patents and designs. Kerry is quick to understand complex issues and is passionate about gaining an in-depth understanding of the technology upon which her clients’ business rely. Whilst Kerry has a longstanding track record of success in the IP Courts, she is particularly astute in settlement negotiations and reaching commercial agreements. Kerry's cases have included technology such as mechanical products, battery technology, medical devices, data and software licensing and combat vehicles used by the British Army. Kerry has also worked on fashion and interior design cases,…
Andrew Whitehead

Partner & Head of Energy

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With a wealth of experience from over 25 years’ advising clients in the UK energy and wider utilities sector, Andrew heads up our national energy and projects team. His clients include the Great Britain electricity and gas system operators, network owners, power generators and developers, one of the UK’s LNG terminals, and a variety of retail energy suppliers. Andrew’s work also extends to the roll out of electric vehicles and associated infrastructure, where his clients include energy suppliers and charge point infrastructure providers. Andrew has worked on some of the major transition projects in the Great Britain energy sector over…
Sushma Maharaj

Partner

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She advises project sponsors, corporations, financial institutions, governments and regulatory bodies on regulatory and market structures, services arrangements (including concession agreements, supply contracts, O&M contracts and asset optimisation agreements), as well as power purchase arrangements and other route to market agreements. Her experience includes a nine month secondment to the Northern Ireland electricity regulator, OFREG; a three month secondment to British Energy and a seven month secondment to Smartest Energy.
Peter Mayhew

Partner

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Peter leads on a wide range of corporate transactions, from fund structuring and launches to private equity investments, disposals and restructurings, and general corporate governance. He has particular expertise in tax advantaged schemes including the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trust Scheme (VCT). His clients include private equity houses seeking to raise and deploy funds, and individual companies seeking venture capital finance. He is regarded by clients as responsive and excellent at providing clear and relevant technical advice.
Aller Dawlat

Partner

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Aller has a wealth of experience working with the country’s largest utility network operators and independent distribution network operators especially on large-scale projects. Aller also works with developers preparing fundable energy projects. "That is the fastest Title Rectification I’ve seen in thirty years! To complete something involving the Land Registry in less than three hours from instruction is incredible. You are the go to man.” - Wayleave officers from DNOs
Martyn Thorpe

Partner

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Martyn has spent significant periods working in-house for large industry players, and as such has considerable insight into the needs of clients and the workings of large corporate organisations. Recently Martyn has been working within National Grid Grain LNG on the commercial, regulatory and contractual aspects of bringing on-board a major new client, combined with the construction of a new-build storage and regasification facility. Previously, he worked a number of aspects of the UK’s Smart Meter roll-out. Martyn also advises on the creation of the hydrogen infrastructure, heat networks, new Carbon Capture technology and gas regulatory work, including REMIT within…
Jody Webb

Partner

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With over 18 years’ experience working in the Birmingham market, Jody is well known for her expertise and commercial approach and has strong relationships with CF advisers, accountants and intermediaries. She advises corporates, owner-managers, management teams and investors on all aspects of corporate law and maintains close relationships with clients.
James Hawkeswood

Partner & Head of Corporate

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James has a wealth of experience, his practice over the last few years having developed significant traction in relation to energy and renewables businesses; health, care and education businesses; multi-generational family businesses; and technology and defence companies. James also has a lot of experience advising on cross-border transactions; selling UK companies to non-UK buyers (especially those from the US, France and Germany) and advising groups from those countries on UK acquisitions or subsidiary operations. James is recognised in Legal 500 for being a “leading individual, involved in a significant number of corporate transactions” and in Chambers and Partners as “patient,…