Marks & Clerk marks Earth Day by examining the incentives in place to help drive the green energy revolution

Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, lawyers at Marks & Clark examine the IP incentives in place to enable innovation in technologies that could help drive the green energy revolution. The official theme for Earth Day 2023 is ‘Invest in our planet’. But how far is the UK currently facilitating the deployment of renewable energy and other sustainable technologies? And what role can IP play? It seems clear that carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) may be a key way forward for countries exploring how to meet their net zero targets, including the UK's 2050 target. As fossil fuels are a necessary part of the energy mix, at least until renewable sources can be ramped up, the carbon output of these conventional energy sources can be captured and stored to reduce (and potentially eliminate) environmental damage.