AFRICA’S NEW ENERGY OPPORTUNITY

New EPO-UNEP patents study reveals huge potential for Clean Energy Technologies in Africa

16 May 2013 (United Nations EnvironmentProgram)

“…Africa has a huge untapped potential for generating clean energy, including enough hydroelectric power from its seven major river systems to serve the whole of the continent's needs, as well as enormous potential for solar energy, wind energy and geothermal energy.

“…[ Patents and Clean Energy Technologies (CET) in Africa from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Patent Office (EPO)] showed that…the lack of these patents to protect their products also means that source companies may be reluctant to offer up their know-how to promote technology transfer…”

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“The report also found that despite low patent application numbers in Africa, the overall inventive activity for CET grew by five per cent between 1980 and 2009, compared to 4 per cent at global level. With a 59 per cent increase, mitigation technologies grew most significantly in that period…

“Moreover, most African nations are fairly well integrated into the international patent system and an increasing number are putting in place specific patenting policies and strategies, which give significant importance on technology transfer as part of their development framework. It will be important to ensure the granting of only high-quality patents in Africa, ensuring that patents are only granted for valid inventions, and the undeserving ones refused.”

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