Updates in Energy and Sustainability IP Law October 2022

In U.S. patent information, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory just lately earned a patent —U.S. Patent No. 11,401,910, entitled “Flexible Wave Energy Converter” — directed to utilizing tiny electrical turbines through dynamic pressure (e.g., flexing, stretching, twisting, distension) actions to transform wave power to electrical power. The converters use versatile electrical turbines embedded all through a versatile physique. 

NREL phrases this kinetic renewable power expertise “distributed embedded power converter expertise” or “DEEC-Tec” (pronounced deck-tech). Whereas the patent is restricted to purposes in marine renewable power, comparable to clear energy generated from ocean and river waves, currents, and tides, NREL predicts that the expertise may very well be used to cull electrical energy from different extraordinary sources of kinetic power like clothes, automobiles, and buildings. See https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2022/patented-wave-energy-technology-gets-its-sea-legs.html. 

In litigation information, a Massachusetts federal decide issued a everlasting injunction final month barring Basic Electrical Co. from promoting Haliade-X wind generators {that a} jury discovered infringed a Siemens patent. The ultimate ruling does permit, nevertheless, GE to provide generators which have already been ordered to finish state-sponsored wind initiatives in Massachusetts and New Jersey, specifically 62 generators for the Winery Wind 1 Offshore Power Venture in Massachusetts and quite a few generators for the continuing $475 million Ocean Wind venture in New Jersey. In its amicus transient, the State of New Jersey argued that banning the GE generators would make it unattainable to finish the state-sponsored wind venture, which was accepted again in 2019. See https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/siemens-gamesa-wins-us-ban-ge-wind-turbines-patent-dispute-2022-09-07/. 

U.S. federal district court docket isn’t the one venue by which GE and Siemens are battling over offshore wind expertise. Siemens has challenged the validity of a GE patent for energy conversion within the Excessive Courtroom of Justice of England and Wales. Additionally, in September 2020, GE sought to dam Siemens’ wind turbine imports on the U.S. Worldwide Commerce Fee. See https://www.powermag.com/ruling-issued-in-ges-legal-dispute-with-siemens-gamesa-and-the-winner-is/.