Energy

Most major technological leaps within the energy sector have been based on patented inventions. For example, Dr. Viktor Kaplan filed a patent application for the Kaplan turbine in 1913. This invention was instrumental in the development of hydroelectric power plants in the 1900s and has spawned a multitude of further inventions.

Extraction of oil and gas from subterranean formations has also relied on patented inventions. In 1863 the French engineer Rodolphe Leschot invented the diamond core drill, a precursor of the drill bits used today. Major inventions, such as semi-submersible drilling rigs, concrete gravity base structures for offshore hydrocarbon production and subsea compression systems are protected by patents. In the 1970s, the Norwegian shipbuilder Kværner patented spherical storage tanks for large ocean-going vessels, enabling efficient and safe transportation of liquefied natural gas.

The development of alternative energy sources today also relies on patentable inventions. Some examples are the Norwegian firm REC ScanWafer AS, a leading producer of multi-crystalline wafers for the international solar industry, and the Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas.

Major developments within the energy sector often depend on substantial investments. Protecting these investments is crucial, and a key element is such protection is to secure intellectual property.