Filed under: Feature
The Griffith Hack Clean & Sustainable Technologies Group is Australia’s pre-eminent provider of intellectual property services to organisations that develop technologies with a reduced environmental impact. We have been immersed in these technologies for many years.
We constantly monitor technological advances, review relevant economic and legislative developments, and align ourselves with key industry, academic and governmental players. Why – we believe that the IP we produce for our clients needs to reflect, anticipate and protect current and future trends, models and instruments and, in addition, capture the downstream benefits. We call this – clean and green IP.
We are excited by the challenges and opportunities that now present to Australian technologists – we enjoy working with them in transferring their technology globally. We also hope you find this blog provides some good links and feeds of interest. We welcome your feedback!
Filed under: Feature | Tags: clean and sustainable technologies, cleantech, intellectual property, patent, pope
In an unusual twist, the Pope has put forward his opinion on the role of intellectual property, presumably patents in particular, in the transfer of technology from the developed to the developing world.
The Pope’s comments was recently used by some NGO’s at the recent G8 summit to argue that developing nations needed IP concessions so that they can afford clean and sustainable (low carbon) technologies, as reported here.
The Pope believes weaker IP protection would help developing contries
In ENCYCLICAL LETTER CARITAS IN VERITATE, the Pope stated:
22. Today the picture of development has many overlapping layers. The actors and the causes in both underdevelopment and development are manifold, the faults and the merits are differentiated. This fact should prompt us to liberate ourselves from ideologies, which often oversimplify reality in artificial ways, and it should lead us to examine objectively the full human dimension of the problems. As John Paul II has already observed, the demarcation line between rich and poor countries is no longer as clear as it was at the time of Populorum Progressio[55]. The world’s wealth is growing in absolute terms, but inequalities are on the increase. In rich countries, new sectors of society are succumbing to poverty and new forms of poverty are emerging. In poorer areas some groups enjoy a sort of “superdevelopment” of a wasteful and consumerist kind which forms an unacceptable contrast with the ongoing situations of dehumanizing deprivation. “The scandal of glaring inequalities”[56] continues. Corruption and illegality are unfortunately evident in the conduct of the economic and political class in rich countries, both old and new, as well as in poor ones. Among those who sometimes fail to respect the human rights of workers are large multinational companies as well as local producers. International aid has often been diverted from its proper ends, through irresponsible actions both within the chain of donors and within that of the beneficiaries. Similarly, in the context of immaterial or cultural causes of development and underdevelopment, we find these same patterns of responsibility reproduced. On the part of rich countries there is excessive zeal for protecting knowledge through an unduly rigid assertion of the right to intellectual property, especially in the field of health care. At the same time, in some poor countries, cultural models and social norms of behaviour persist which hinder the process of development.
With all respect to the Pope, perhaps he should consider some of the very many strong arguments presented many times in this blog that weakening IP rights would undermine, not assist, clean technology transfer.
In my opinion, the Pope has received advice that, regretably, is ignorant of the role IP plays, especially in providing clarity and legal certainty in technology transfer transactions.
Clearly, the debate about the role of IP in transfering clean and sustainable technologies to the developing world is now a main stream issue.
Filed under: News | Tags: Australian patent, clean and sustainable technolgies, cleantech, patent
I previously blogged on why patent applications for clean and sustainable technologies should be fast tracked through the Australian Patent Office.
I am pleased to say that in response to my request of them, the Australian Patent Office will now fast track any cleantech patent application on request. The email I received from the office confirming this is copied below.
Australia will fast track cleantech patent applications
Dear Dr Justin,
Thankyou for your email enquiry regarding the fast tracking of climate change mitigation technology, 11 June 2009. I understand that you have been advised that expedited examination under Regulation 3.17(2) is available to your clients for “fast tracking” applications by one of my colleagues and that I would be contacting you as well.
IP Australia has decided to make a formal notification on our Web page to this effect. You will see this notification in the information banner at http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/ in the coming weeks.As you no doubt realise expedited examination is not unique to climate change mitigation technology however under this regulation if the Commissioner is satisfied that the expedited examination is either in the public interest or there are special circumstances that make it desirable it will be expedited.
In line with your request it is the opinion of the Commissioner that an application for climate change mitigation technology would satisfy the requirements of being in the public interest and hence such a request would be suitable. It is expected that in most technologies (depending on the current workload) that expedited examination request would be considered within around 4-8 weeks.
Yours Sincerely
Victor Portelli
General Manager
Patents and Plant Breeders Rights Group
IP Australia
Filed under: News | Tags: clean and sustainable technology, patent, prius, technology, Toyota
The Wall Street Journal quoted Griffith Hack patent attorney Justin Blows:
Toyota’s patent-filing strategy has made it far too risky to copy the Prius without Toyota’s blessing.
Since it started developing the gas-electric Prius more than a decade ago, Toyota has kept its attorneys just as busy as its engineers, meticulously filing for patents on more than 2,000 systems and components for its best-selling hybrid. Its third-generation Prius, which hit showrooms in May, accounts for about half of those patents alone.
Toyota’s goal: to make it difficult for other auto makers to develop their own hybrids without seeking licensing from Toyota, as Ford Motor Co. already did to make its Escape hybrid and Nissan MotorCo. has for its Altima hybrid.
Read more about Toyota’s patent strategy in relation to Hybrid vehicles in the WSJ article here.
Read Justin’s other blogs on Toyota’s patents here.
Griffith Hack client NEP Solar, has won the prestigious Innovation Award at Intersolar 2009, guaranteeing the Sydney-based company a great deal of exposure at the world’s largest trade show for solar technology being held in Munich, Germany, from 27-29 May.
Intersolar’s 2009 Award was made to NEP Solar for its new solar process heat collector, the PolyTrough 1200, which is now being manufactured in Sydney for local and export markets. The award was presented to NEP Solar’s Chief Financial Officer Antoine Millioud and General Manager Projects, Stefan Minder, at a special ceremony held at Intersolar 2009 in Munich today. “We are very pleased with the award and we believe through innovation, quality design, life cycle approach and customer focus we will contribute to the uptake of solar thermal in the industrial and commercial sectors,” NEP Solar’s CEO Johan Dreyer said.
Intersolar 2009 is the most important platform in the world for showcasing groundbreaking technologies and innovations in solar thermal technology and photovoltaics.
This year there are 1,400 exhibitors presenting their products to over 60,000 visitors, in an area covering 100,000 square metres.
The Intersolar Award is being awarded in the “Solar Thermal Technology”and “Photovoltaic” categories, with winners being selected by two independent juries made up of experts from the fields of photovoltaics and solar thermal technology.
Centred on a proprietary polymeric reflector, the new PolyTrough 1200 deploys various design features which will lead to lower life cycle costs for NEP Solar’s clients. The parabolic trough collector is designed to generate heat at 120°C to 220°C for industrial processes as well as commercial solar cooling, large scale water heating and distributed power generation. It can deliver cooling and heating solutions for facilities such as shopping malls, factories, plants, warehouses and other big buildings at a competitive cost to other systems.
“Solar process heat is the sleeping giant of solar thermal,” said NEP’s CFO Antoine Millioud. “As a significant part of primary energy consumption stems from medium temperature industrial applications, it is essential that solar process heat experiences a similar uptake in this sector as seen for solar domestic water heating in the residential area.”
NEP Solar’s prototype PolyTrough 1200 was successfully developed with assistance from a grant under the Australian Government Renewable Energy Development Initiative and was tested at the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle.
In the US, billions of dollars are being spent on smart meters, much of it backed by US government funds.
But this area is so promising that many companies, such as Xcel Energy are spending their own money, not government funds. This article is an interesting, if lengthy, discussion on Xcel Energy’s project.
While I was looking at Xcel Energy’s web site, I found this great idea of their’s called saver’s switch. Here is an article about it. In short, a remote control switch is installed that can turn off an air conditioner at peak times when electricity is at its most expensive.
Filed under: News | Tags: ANZSES, clean and sustainable technology, cleantech, photovoltaic, PV, solar energy, technology
In this article, John Grimes, the CEO of the Australian & New Zealand Solar Energy Society (ANZSES) stated:
Australian scientists and research and development are at the leading edge of the world … what we lack is government support to commercialise and capitalise on that research
It is his opinion that unless Australia introduces a solar feed in tariff Australia will miss out on the opportunities of harnessing solar energy to solve our energy problems, and all of the business opportunities associated with it.
Filed under: Feature
KeepCup have just launched the world’s first barista standard reusable coffee cup. It fits under the group heads of espresso machines and replicates the internal volumes of standard service – so having a coffee in a reusable cup need no longer be a compromise to speed and quality of service. Designed, tooled and manufactured in Melbourne the KeepCup is recyclable at the end of its life (estimated 1000 uses). Companies with a sustainability agenda, among them NAB, Energy Australia, Worksafe and Australia Post are purchasing them for their staff to reduce Scope 3 emissions under the GHG inventory.
For more information or to purchase a KeepCup please visit http://www.keepcup.com.au/
Filed under: Feature
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), a leader in industrial biotechnology is pleased to announce the fourth annual Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy. This meeting will continue and expand the essential exchange between industry, academia and government that has been so successful at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing. This meeting will address the latest issues in industrial biotechnology including algae for fuels, marine bio-resources, advanced biofuels, renewable hydrocarbons, biopolymers and bioplastics, dedicated energy crops, and much more.
For more information please visit http://www.bio.org/pacrim/
Filed under: News | Tags: cleantech, climate change, intellectual property, IP, patent, technology
The issue of patents and climate change are rapidly rising up the political agenda.
I came across this interesting article written by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., the ranking Republican on the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
Mr Sensenbrenner argues very strongly for strong IP protection to protect innovators from from those that would take clean and sustainable technologies – such as clean and renewable energy sources – without any suitable consideration in return. He believes that:
Now that international climate treaty negotiations are gaining momentum, China is leading the assault on the patent protections that are central in promoting the ingenuity, innovation and creativity that drive the economies of America and other developed countries.
Mr Sensenbrenner also states that China and other developing nations want developed nations to contribute 1% of their GDP to them so that they can buy clean and sustainable technologies at a price that they themselves set.
While the two sides are highly polarised on the issue of IP rights relating to climate change mitigation and adaption technologies, it appears that everyone agrees that patents are a powerful and flexible tool that can be used for the interests of innovators or alternatively the developing nations, depending on the policy framework in which they are used.
This is a great example of how patents provide a strong legal basis to the problem of technology transfer, no matter what mechanism used. Without patenting the clean technology in the first place its hard to see how it can be effectively transfered in any senario.
Let’s hope both sides find a mutually agreeable solution so that we can get on with the real problem of tackling climate change.
Filed under: Feature
Brett Janissen, Director, Allen Consulting Group
Allen Consulting Group has recently released a report on growth opportunities in a carbon constrained world. At a recent Griffith Hack Clean and Sustainable Technologies Seminar Brett discussed the growth opportunities identified in this report, and the implications of these opportunities to businesses both in Victoria and elsewhere in Australia.
Brett is an Executive Manager of the Asia Pacific Emissions Trading Forum, and leader in the Climate Change practice of the Allen Consulting Group. He is a specialist in climate policy and emissions trading design; with over 20 years of experience as an economist and policy analyst in a range of Commonwealth agencies, and as a senior consultant.
He led the emissions trading work within the Australian Greenhouse Office from 1999 to 2004 and was principal author of key policy documents in this area including the AGO’s emissions trading discussion paper series and the Commonwealth’s ‘credit for early action’ proposal. As a senior consultant, Brett has continued to advise in the climate area for a range of Commonwealth, State and private sector organisations.
To view Brett’s presentation Click Here
Filed under: Feature
Professor Frank Larkins, Chief Scientist, Energy (Department of Primary Industries) and Professor Emeritus in the School of Chemisty, University of Melbourne.
At a recent Griffith Hack Clean and Sustainable Technologies seminar Professor Larkins discussed why meeting Australia’s future energy demand in a clean and sustainable manner will be a significant challenge. He looked at some of the key uncertainties facing energy planners.
In considered: demand projections, resource availability, regulatory environment, infrastructure investment, climate impacts, technological advances, community attitudes and international developments.
Professor Larkins has published more than 200 papers in the fields of theoretical chemical physics, catalysis, coal chemistry, materials and fuel science.
He holds a wealth of experience in the science and energy sector with previous appointments at Melbourne University having included: Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Dean of Science and Dean of Land and Food Resources. He is a graduate of the University of Melbourne and of Oxford University as well as being a Victorian Rhodes Scholar, Wadham College Senior Scholar, Queen Elizabeth II Fellow and Fulbright Senior Scholar. He has held academic appointments at Battelle Institute, Columbus, USA, Monash, Tasmania, Oregon and Melbourne Universities.
To view slides from Professor Larkins’ presentation Click Here
Filed under: News | Tags: ACCC, ACF, cap and trade, carbon credits, carbon offsets, CPRS, Trade Practices
According to this news item, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has accused six companies of making misleading statements about the impact of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) and is thus allegedly contravening the Trade Practices Act of Australia.
This highlights the risks of making statements about the emerging market for carbon credits and carbon offsets that often accompanied marketing claims.
The ACCC has released the report Carbon Offset Claims: Trade Practices Issues and Other Key Concerns. The ACCC is concerned that with the emergence of carbon offsets and carbon pollution reduction schemes that some potentially misleading and deceptive claims have been made. Generally, the ACCC is concerned about claims made in regard to a particular product or service in a commercial sense. The ACF’’s allegation, are thus from a different angle.
In a later report entitled Green Marketing and the Trade Practices Act, the ACCC suggested:
- avoid using names like safe and friendly and unqualified pictures of graphics. At best they are unhelpful and encourage scepticism; at worst they are misleading;
- spell out exactly what is about the product that makes it green and claim language that consumers can understand;
- link the environmental benefit to a specific part of the product or its production process, such as extraction, transportation, manufacture, use package or disposal;
- make sure any claims you make about the product can be substantiated. Think about how you would answer a query regarding the environmental benefits you are claiming about your product. For example, what scientific authority could you use to justify the basis of the claim;
- explain how a products characteristic is beneficial to the environment. For example, explain that phosphate free product is the most damaging in river systems because phosphate promotes algal growth, which can clog up rivers;
- don’t give the impression that your product is completely environmentally benign if it is not;
- use the claim only in an appropriate context or setting. For example, do not claim that a product is not tested on animals if it is product that would better be tested on animals anyway.
Filed under: Feature
At a recent Griffith Hack Clean and Sustainable Technologies seminar Brett Janissen discussed the growth opportunities identified in the Allen Consulting Group report, and the implications of these opportunities to businesses both in Victoria and elsewhere in Australia.
Brett is an Executive Manager of the Asia Pacific Emissions Trading Forum, and leader in the Climate Change practice of the Allen Consulting Group. He is a specialist in climate policy and emissions trading design; with over 20 years of experience as an economist and policy analyst in a range of Commonwealth agencies, and as a senior consultant.
He led the emissions trading work within the Australian Greenhouse Office from 1999 to 2004 and was principal author of key policy documents in this area including the AGO’s emissions trading discussion paper series and the Commonwealth’s ‘credit for early action’ proposal. As a senior consultant, Brett has continued to advise in the climate area for a range of Commonwealth, State and private sector organisations.
Filed under: News | Tags: hybrid, India, lithium battery, patent, technology
According to this news item, patented lithium ion battery technology has brought low costs manufacturers and companies which hold lithium ion patents to the negotiating table.
The article cites that multiple patents appear to be a major hurdle to clear before domestic Indian companies could start manufacturing lithium batteries. This shows that filing patents in the emerging economies such as India and China can be highly effective in securing commercial advantage and joint ventures in these countries.
Filed under: News | Tags: Desertiec, Deutsche Bank, Siemens, solar thermal power, technology
According to this report a consortium of German companies including Siemens & Deutsche Bank are considering a US$555.3 billion solar energy project.
The project would involve solar thermal power generation in the deserts of North Africa with high voltage DC transmission lines linking the power plant to Europe.
I note that the organisation Desertiec is involved, which also has an Australian branch.
Munmorah Carbon Capture Plant
In this year’s budget, the New South Wales Government announced a significant investment in clean coal. Apparently, a key focus of the mineral resources budget is the $16.5 million investment in clean coal technology designed to accelerate the work for clean coal in New South Wales. New South Wales has a $100 million clean coal fund.
On the Central Coast of New South Wales, there is the $5 million Munmorah pilot carbon capture plant which is designed to capture 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. Apparently, the state is searching for sequestration sites.
Last night I attended an Australian Institute of Energy (AIE), Young Energy Professionals meeting hosted by AGL.
The CEO of AGL opened the evening and said that AGL has AU$1B of clean energy projects ready to go but on hold because of legislative uncertainty, for example, the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.
Ben McNeil– Senior Fellow, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW, gave an interesting presentation about the opportunities for innovative companies in the changing energy landscape and the move to cleaner energy. He’s written a book which is all about this opportunity – The Clean Industrial Revolution.
The future of carbon capture and storage
Nick Otter, CEO the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, Canberra
Nick discusses carbon capture and storage in Australia, with an emphasis on power generation, distribution and transport. The Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI) is being established at the specific behest of the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to accelerate the global deployment of carbon capture and storage at coal fired power stations. The Prime Minister has pledged a budget for the GCCSI of up to A$100m/year. The initial focus of the GCCSI is, through the provision of international policy and management oversight, to facilitate the development worldwide of more than 20 commercial-scale carbon capture and storage demonstration projects by 2020, in line with policy adoptions by the G8.
done
The economic drivers for clean and sustainable technologies
Peter Jones, OBE
Peter talks about the future of sustainable technologies, such as renewable energy and waste recycling and processing, from an overarching economic perspective. Peter draws on his experiences in the UK and Europe. Peter was until May 2008 a Director of Biffa Waste Services Limited with specific responsibilities in external affairs and strategy development. He qualified from Nottingham University as an Industrial Economist in 1969, and in July 2007 received an Honorary Degree from the University of Southampton as a Doctor of the University. In recognition of his wide involvement in the economic, technological and socio-political trends impacting on society in the waste and resources economy, Peter Jones was awarded the OBE in 2007. Peter is the Mayor of London’s Special Advisor on waste on the London Waste Advisory Board. Additionally he is a strategic advisor for a number of UK Blue Chips examining the issues around Distributed Energy and the impact of low carbon policies.
Filed under: News | Tags: carbon dioxide, carbon recycling, CCS, CO2, Mantra Energy
Recently a lot of attention has been paid to capture carbon and storage (CCS). One of the drawbacks of this approach is that the capture and storage for carbon from, for example, a coal fired power station costs money and there is no direct financial benefit from doing so.
People are starting to wonder whether they can make money from the captured carbon. Is the answer carbon recycling?
According to this article, people are starting to ask this question. Some of the possible uses of captured carbon dioxide is to convert it to formate salts or formic acid which are both valuable chemicals used in industry. One company doing this is Mantra Energy.
Another use for captured CO2 is as a feedstock for the growth of algae which can be then turned into useful biofuel. Alternatively, chemical conversion of the carbon dioxide into methanol or another fuel may be possible. These ideas certainly make sense from an economic perspective provided they can be made to work and may be the answer to the economic barriers associated with reducing carbon emissions.
Filed under: News | Tags: DRCV, Electronic Engine Temperature Control Systems, engine temperature management
According to this report, a significant obstacle to the efficient operation of an internal combustion engine is the maintenance of a ideal operating temperature to keep the correct engine oil viscosity. Apparently, the ideal temperature is between 110°C and 120°C.
One company, Electronic Engine Temperature Control Systems, has developed a way to regulate the bypass coolant circuit around the engine to always provide an optimal engine oil temperature - irrespective of either ambient temperature or engine load conditions.
The system, a new digital rotary control valve (DRCV) system significantly boosts engine efficiencies. In cold climates, such as winter driving in Ontario, the system provides an 8% fuel economy saving. This is purely based on the thermal management of engine oil, however more savings are possible by regulating transmission fluid temperatures.
The company has a strong intellectual property position with 19 US patents, many covering controlled technology. Some of the patent applications are linked here.
