Patents in basic utillities
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The document examines innovation and patent activity in the areas of basic utilities like water, wastewater, and district heating compared to green technologies. It finds that basic utilities have seen stagnating technological development and patenting globally, while green technologies have grown remarkably. This lack of innovation in basic utilities could challenge adapting infrastructure to issues like climate change and water quality. Danish companies also show little patent activity in these areas, indicating difficulties exporting related technologies internationally.
![The IPC classes containing utility technologies Utilities in patents Areas where basic utility technologies are included (water, wastewater and district heating) IPC class Description C02F1 Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage (C02F3/00 to C02F9/00 take precedence) C02F3/00 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage [N: (C02F1/00R takes precedence)] E21B43 Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells (applicable only to water E03B ; obtaining oil-bearing deposits or soluble or meltable materials by mining techniques E21C41/00 ; pumps F04) B01D Separation F24D10 District heating systems F16L59 PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL F16K VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING B29c SHAPING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING G06D SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES F28F DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION F28B Heat exchange F25B REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT-PUMP SYSTEMS E03F Sewers, cesspools F24d DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR C02F TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE E03B INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER F17D PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/patentsinbasicutillities-110408072914-phpapp01/85/Patents-in-basic-utillities-3-320.jpg)
![The survey Green tech in patents Areas identified as green tech: Wind, solar, bio fuel etc. IPC class Description C10B53 Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form F03D Wind motors F01K27 Plants for converting heat or fluid energy into mechanical energy, not otherwise provided for F01K23 Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids C05F ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE F24j PRODUCING OR USE OF HEAT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR F03G4/00 SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR Y02E REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG] EMISSION, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/patentsinbasicutillities-110408072914-phpapp01/85/Patents-in-basic-utillities-4-320.jpg)
Patents in basic utillities
- 1. Patents in Basic Utillities www.innovationpartners.dk
- 2. Basic infrastructure is neglected I set out to examine whether there is new technologies in the areas of water distribution, wastewater (transport and treatment) and district heating. All three areas are considered among the most basic utilities in Denmark. The idea was to examine the probability of new technologies radically changing the sector in the near future. I examined patent activity as an indicator of innovation using ESPACENET data I found that the basic utilities area seem to be neglected, not only in Denmark but globally, compared to green technologies and the general patenting trend. An ambition of marketing Danish technology in the utilities area is not realistic
- 3. The IPC classes containing utility technologies Utilities in patents Areas where basic utility technologies are included (water, wastewater and district heating) IPC class Description C02F1 Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage (C02F3/00 to C02F9/00 take precedence) C02F3/00 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage [N: (C02F1/00R takes precedence)] E21B43 Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells (applicable only to water E03B ; obtaining oil-bearing deposits or soluble or meltable materials by mining techniques E21C41/00 ; pumps F04) B01D Separation F24D10 District heating systems F16L59 PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL F16K VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING B29c SHAPING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING G06D SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES F28F DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION F28B Heat exchange F25B REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT-PUMP SYSTEMS E03F Sewers, cesspools F24d DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR C02F TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE E03B INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER F17D PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES
- 4. The survey Green tech in patents Areas identified as green tech: Wind, solar, bio fuel etc. IPC class Description C10B53 Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form F03D Wind motors F01K27 Plants for converting heat or fluid energy into mechanical energy, not otherwise provided for F01K23 Plants characterised by more than one engine delivering power external to the plant, the engines being driven by different fluids C05F ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE F24j PRODUCING OR USE OF HEAT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR F03G4/00 SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR Y02E REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG] EMISSION, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- 5. Development in utility patents The patenting numbers show a stagnating technological area with a total of around 100.000 annual published patents
- 6. Development in Green patents The patenting numbers show a developing technological area with a total of around 40.000 annual published patents. The growth of the areas is however remarkable
- 7. Basic utilities and Green tech compared There is a remarkable difference in the growth in the two areas. Compared to the average growth of patents in all fields the basic utility area is lacking
- 8. Reasons for stagnation in utilities innovation Decreasing research both public and private – funds being directed towards other projects. The reason could be an increased focus on green technologies. This is supported somewhat by the patent data. Also the public focus on CO2 and climate could mean that it is easier getting capital for green projects. Innovation primarily in areas not open for patenting ~ service.
- 9. Danish companies patent activity As the below table shows Danish companies are not very active when it comes to patent activity, with the exception og Vestas and Danfoss. A few non-Danish utility companies have been included as well 1999 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Logstor 0 1 0 0 3 0 1 3 Danfoss 208 275 374 288 331 393 361 397 Vestas 3 23 31 60 111 174 263 448 Isoplus (AU) 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 Iron Pump 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SPX Corp (US) 12 120 122 147 154 94 99 79 Aarsleff 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 6 Veolia (FRA) 0 4 8 8 10 24 34 41 Grundfos 14 25 23 35 47 88 122 127
- 10. Conclusions Innovation growth in the area of basic utilities seems to have stagnated, measured in patents. This will challenge our need to adapt the infrastructure to climate change, water quality, wastewater treatment The focus on green technologies are dampening innovation in the basic utilities area An ambition of selling Danish technology and knowhow on the international market is not supported by patents. This opens up for export of primarily services and not technology. Initiatives working towards more R&D in basic utilities are needed