![]() ![]() Meanwhile, applications in other patenting jurisdictions in which energy infrastructures are still being developed or are still not yet nearing the end of their lifespans may be allowed to follow ordinary examination courses.Īs older generation energy infrastructures near the end of their lifespans, the need for comprehensive decommissioning policies and novel innovations will only increase. ![]() For example, patent applications for inventions related to decommissioning may first be filed in countries such as Canada or the UK, where decommissioning activities are increasing and expedited avenues of examination for green technologies are currently available. Patent applicants and holders should be mindful of how their IP rights can be aligned with commercially profitable decommissioning activities worldwide to mitigate costs. However, the practice of regularly maintaining and renewing patents often comes with ongoing costs. Patent applicants that seek to address current environmental concerns with decommissioning may find themselves on a fast-tracked requisition course at no additional cost. For instance, CIPO provides four methods of accelerating patent applications, including an advanced examination of green technologies that help resolve or mitigate environmental impacts. Moreover, various mechanisms exist for expediting the application process for innovations that serve a particular purpose. Patents form one avenue available to protect innovations that may address some of the current challenges related to decommissioning in the energy sector. ![]() Opportunities for Patents in the Decommissioning Sector Moreover, the physical remoteness of many infrastructure sites raises logistical challenges concerning the mobilization of equipment and resources. There are also several environmental concerns associated with either restoring decommissioned sites to their original condition or preparing them for subsequent use. ![]() The process of decommissioning is also sure to incur costs, but few operators adequately plan or put aside sufficient funds to execute their decommissioning projects effectively. For instance, decommissioning policymakers will need to turn their minds to the management of radioactive, toxic, and hazardous materials, or the handling, transportation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of very large compounds. Unfortunately, decommissioning existing energy infrastructures in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner comes with its fair share of challenges, many of which public and private stakeholders alike have overlooked. Some chemical processes are also being re-developed or re-applied to extract fiberglass and other reusable materials from old blades, with a view to recycle them for future use in new turbines. In some countries, old turbine blades are being repurposed for their strength and stability to reinforce concrete walls, buildings, bridges, and other structures. As the lifespan of first-generation turbines comes to an end, new decommissioning issues in the renewable energy sector is making room for new patent opportunities as well. For example, wind turbines typically have a lifespan of approximately 25 years. Nuclear energy, coal and gas-fired energy, and renewable energy are currently the most notable energy infrastructure sectors facing decommissioning. This process may also involve removing, recycling, remanufacturing, storing, or disposing of specific compounds. In the energy sector, decommissioning refers to the practice of dismantling energy installations at the end of their life cycles when they no longer satisfy required standards of safety, security, regulation, economic viability, ethical considerations, or environmental integrity. Facebook Tweet Pin Email Photo by luchschenF ( Shutterstock Image)Įmily Xiang is an IPilogue Writer, the President of the Intellectual Property Society of Osgoode, and a 2L JD Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. ![]()
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