17 March: In collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health (GIWEH), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has published a report titled “Patent Landscape Report on Desalination Technologies and the Use of Alternative Energies for Desalination.”

With the increasing need for desalinisation technology in the Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere, the Patent Landscape Report is meant to provide an overview of desalination patenting activity and innovation powered by renewable energies. The report aims to support policymakers and investors in their assessment of technology solutions for renewable energy deployment. It finds that current use of renewable energy for desalination is low, and suggests that this can be remedied by an increase in research and development, and technology learning in order to increase the competitive advantage of renewable energy technology. According to the report, although use of fossil energy for desalinisation are still popular, renewable energy desalination technologies are expected to be more cost efficient in the near future and become an important source of water supply for regions affected by water scarcity. This is attributed to the rapid decrease of renewable energy costs, technical advances, and increases in the number of installations in desalinization plants. [IRENA Press Release] [WIPO Press Release] [Publication: Patent Landscape Report on Desalination Technologies and the Use of Alternative Energies for Desalination]