Australia’s Position in the 2025 Global Renewable Landscape

Australia’s clean energy transition is gaining remarkable momentum as the nation seeks to meet its ambitious 2030 and 2050 emission reduction targets. With climate change high on the political and public agenda, global energy systems are undergoing a fundamental transformation.

This article examines some of the latest advances in Australia’s renewable energy sector and highlights the pivotal role of intellectual property in shaping the nation’s clean energy future.

Solar Energy Production

Australia continues to lead the world in rooftop solar adoption per capita, with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems now installed on one in three homes. According to the Clean Energy Australia 2024 Report, renewables contributed approximately 35% of the country’s total electricity generation in 2023, with rooftop solar alone responsible for nearly 30% of the renewable share.

Next-Gen Solar Technologies and Patent Activity

The Australian government allocated $100 million in funding in 2024 to stimulate breakthroughs in next-generation solar technologies. This investment supports research into advanced materials and architectures that aim to push solar efficiencies beyond those of conventional silicon cells.

Perovskite solar cells offer high light absorption, are less energy-intensive to produce, and can be printed onto flexible surfaces. Perovskites can be produced using low-cost materials and techniques, making them a strong candidate for large-scale deployment.
Tandem solar cells layer different types of PV materials to capture a broader spectrum of sunlight. By stacking materials with complementary absorption characteristics, tandem cells can absorb different parts of the solar spectrum achieving efficiencies well beyond the limits of conventional single-junction cells.
Bifacial solar cells capture sunlight from both the front and rear surfaces of the panel. These double-sided panels utilise reflected light from the ground or surrounding surfaces, increasing overall output by 10 to 30%. Bifacial technology is particularly effective in high-albedo environments, such as sandy areas, making them well suited for Australia’s reflective landscapes.

Battery Storage Revolution

Energy storage continues to be a critical enabler of the renewable transition. Currently, electrical grids have little built-in capacity to store excess electricity. Grids were built around a model of on-demand energy generation, where supply is adjusted to match demand in real time.

Due to the fluctuating nature of renewable electricity, there can be a mismatch between when electricity is produced and when it’s needed. As the use of renewables grows globally, more grid-scale battery storage will be needed to balance supply and demand. The global demand for batteries is set to quadruple by 2030, requiring substantial expansion in storage capacity.

IP Trends in Battery Innovation

Patent data from IP Australia shows that filings related to battery storage technologies have more than tripled since 2020 – a clear indication of accelerating innovation in this space.

While lithium-ion batteries remain the dominant technology, their scalability is constrained by high costs, environmental concerns, and supply risks associated with critical minerals such as cobalt and lithium. As such, new battery chemistries are gaining traction.

Patent filings related to flow batteries have risen significantly since 2020. These systems offer a near-infinite cycle life and easy scalability.
Sodium ion batteries offer a low-cost, widely available alternative to lithium, reducing dependency on geopolitically sensitive supply chains. Recent patent activity indicates growing momentum in addressing performance limitations, particularly in enhancing cycle life, charge efficiency, and low-temperature performance.
Solid-state batteries replace flammable liquid electrolytes with solid materials. They offer significant improvements in safety, thermal stability, and energy density, making them attractive for grid-scale storage.

The Australian Government committed $500 million in 2023 under the Battery Breakthrough Initiative to support local manufacturing and reduce reliance on global supply chains.

Green Hydrogen

The most significant shift in Australia’s energy landscape has been the rapid expansion of the green hydrogen sector. A network of regional hydrogen hubs across Australia are already in planning or development stages, supported by both government funding and private investment. These projects aim to supply hydrogen domestically and to trading partners such as Japan, South Korea, and Germany.

Hydrogen serves as a versatile energy storage medium that complements renewable energy systems. Excess electricity, typically from renewable sources like wind or solar, can be used to power electrolysers that split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is compressed, liquefied, or bound in chemical carriers and stored. When energy is needed, the stored hydrogen can be converted back to electricity, for example by fuel cells or by combustion, which produces water vapour as a primary byproduct.

Innovation and IP in the Hydrogen Economy

According to IP Australia, patent filings related to green hydrogen rose by over 50% from 2020 to 2023. Key innovation areas include electrolysis efficiency, storage solutions, and transportation methods – all critical components of a viable hydrogen economy.

In the near future, hydrogen produced using renewable energy could serve as a zero-emission fuel to combust when the demand for power is high.

Looking Ahead: The Strategic Role of Intellectual Property in the Energy Transition

The clean energy revolution is not just about deploying solar panels or building batteries, it’s about owning the technologies of the future. IP Australia reports that among 19 major economies, Australia is the second fastest-growing destination for clean energy patent filings.

With a rich endowment of critical minerals, world-leading solar and wind potential, and an increasingly supportive policy environment, Australia has all the ingredients to lead in the clean energy transition.

The coming years will determine whether Australia can seize its clean energy advantage and build a future that is not only low-carbon, but also innovative and globally competitive. Protecting and commercialising clean energy innovations through strategic patenting will be key to ensuring Australian technologies lead, and thrive, in the global market.

For More Information

Every member of our Energy team has a background in Chemistry or Engineering. You can be assured that when you are talking to us, we understand your technology and will combine this knowledge with a flexible, forward-thinking approach to providing IP advice that is aligned with and supports your commercial strategy.

The Energy team has experience in hydrogen technology, carbon storage and removal, geothermal, solar, wind and bioenergy.

Should you require assistance protecting your own Green Energy Innovation, please contact our specialists:

Brendan Peachey, Principal, Wrays – brendan.peachey@wrays.com.au

Victoria Seville, Technical Assistant, Wrays – victoria.seville@wrays.com.au

Mary Turonek, Principal, Wrays – mary.turonek@wrays.com.au