Five Green Innovation Trends for 2023 and beyond

By Lucy Roue

 Green innovation is forever pushing the boundaries to make the world a more sustainable place.

Whether it’s step change progress in core technologies such as solar panels, heat pumps, and hydrogen fuel cells, or the emergence of a new market altogether.

The speakers at pro-manchester’s Green Tech Conference brought valuable insights for the future.

Starting with Chris Mason, Senior Associate, at Appleyard Lees who shared findings from their Inside Green Innovation: Progress Report 2022.

The specialist IP firm compiled the report using patent filing data from around the world.

Energy – Green Hydrogen   

Considered ‘the ultimate goal’ when it comes to hydrogen, green hydrogen is produced from the electrolysis of water, powered by renewable energy.

Trend lines show there were 75 global patent filings for green hydrogen technology in 2010 which shot up to almost 200 in 2020.

Mason explained that recent growth in the core technology centred on the electrolyser.

“Most of the innovation is in the chemical fields, such as surface technology and new types of coatings. A lot of the growth has also been driven by European innovators, which is great to see.”

Batteries – Short-term Energy Storage

There is high demand for an affordable, clean energy, power source thanks to the soaring sales of electric vehicles.

According to Appleyard Lees ‘new patent filings in li-ion technology have plateaued’ paving the way for solid-state batteries – driven by the automotive industry.

Filings for this short-term energy storage have shot up since 2015 and will soon overtake the incumbent technology.

“The green innovation space is fast-moving but also capital intensive so it raises questions about when is the right time to take the plunge on any particular technology” said Mason.

Food – Alternative Protein

The popularity of cultivated meats, plant-based meat, and insect protein has soared in recent years, and is set to continue.

These alternatives to traditional farming reduce the environmental impact of protein production, making them a more sustainable choice for consumers.

“It’s interesting because a lot of the companies are start-ups and pre-revenue.

“When you are starting a new industry, you have a lot of issues beyond the technical problems to address. You’ve got regulatory hurdles, investors to keep happy and a customer-base to grow.

“A large part is making those consumer behavioural changes to produce any kind of mass market. It is certainly a challenge, but it has been faced before and overcome.”

Buildings – Systems Approach

Many of the experts believe ‘a whole systems approach’ is needed to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment.

Jean-Michel Bellas, Director of Energy Solutions at Silver EMS, said: “I think it will be more about the way that technology manages and optimises buildings than the actual equipment.

“It may have a heat pump, a solar PV and thermal storage but it’s the AI which manages these systems collectively which will deliver the cost-savings and help to decarbonise.”

Education – Upskill on Net Zero

Alongside tech innovation is the need for better commercial understanding around net zero.

Amer Gaffar, Director of the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre, called for this to be the next biggest trend.

He said: “I think we have a real problem in the UK around communicating the opportunity for net zero.

“Carbon literacy teaches you about the environment but net zero skills will teach you about the investment decisions that need to be made.

“It’s about giving those skills pathways to people who need to learn and taking the supply chain with you.”