Cleantech Investor

First published on the Cleantech Investor website, February 2013.

Ian Bernard, Technical Manager at British Water, shares his views on water management and technical innovation in the UK water industry with Cleantech magazine. Ian Bernard will speak at Water Tech Invest on 14 February 2013.

Good water management, in the view of Ian Bernard, requires a holistic approach to water management and an increase in innovation if the industry is to be sustainable.  The industry must incorporate the water cycle in its entirety in water management and take more risk with innovation, an approach which, in the past 20 years, Bernard believes has not been adopted in the UK.  However, times are changing as water utilities are working more on ‘upstream’ projects and surface water drainage schemes, while the water utilities and the supply chain companies are communicating much more ‘face to face’ on emerging technologies. In Bernard's view, the government bodies Ofwat, Defra and the Technology Strategy Board should take note.

First published in Cleantech magazine, Volume 6 Issue 6. Copyright Cleantech Investor Ltd

By Anne McIvor

Desalination is experiencing rapid growth, with a 57% increase in installed capacity over five years according to International Desalination Association (IDA) and Global Water Intelligence (GWI) figures. This growth, to 78.4 million m³/d compared to 47.6 million m³/d at the end of 2008, is being driven in large part by technology improvements. According to a major report published by investment bank GP Bullhound in 2012, the desalination industry delivers 66 million cubic metres of water daily, and this volume is expected to double over the next four years. The report’s author, Andre Shortell, argues that:

“Desalination has become a global industry that is now mainstream and self-sustaining, spawning new opportunities.”

With the water needs of the word doubling and populations tending to move to locations where there is no fresh water, Shortell argues that there is little alternative to desalination. He points out, however, that “desalination is not a sole solution - it's part of a mix: and the mix depends upon where you are in the world".

Desalination patent applications and general water patent applications worldwide

 Source: Marks & Clerk

First published in Cleantech magazine, Volume 6 Issue 6 - December 2012

Andrew Hore reviews recent news from the AIM listed water sector companies.

Water Sector Stock Performances 2012

First published in Cleantech magazine, Volume 6 Issue 6. Copyright Cleantech Investor Ltd

Fast growth in Chinese water sector patent applications makes a case for urgent patent applications by western companies.

By Anne McIvor

Patent applications relating to the water sector in China are soaring. According to data from Marks & Clerk, Chinese applications for patents have grown at high annual double-digit rates over the last eight years, peaking at over 40% in 2010. This year, based on figures to the end of November, Chinese applications look set to grow by over 20% and to account for around 28% of all patent applications globally,within the International Patent Classification System ‘CO2F’ category. This category includes all patents relating to “Treatment of Water, Waste Water, Sewage or Sludge”.

2012 Patent Applications in CO2F Category (Treatment of Water, Waste Water, Sewage or Sludge)

Total: 20,026 (to end November 2012)

Source: Marks & Clerk

First published in Cleantech magazine, Volume 6 Issue 6. Copyright Cleantech Investor Ltd

Fiona Griffith (Managing Director) and Craig Gordon (Technology Consultant) of Isle Utilities assess the implications of changes in the UK water regulatory system which seek to remove barriers to innovation.

Innovation, particularly when linked with sustainability and increased efficiency, is a hot topic across many UK business sectors. This is no different for the water industry, with a plethora of water innovation reports having been commissioned by the Government and businesses to examine how innovative the sector is and whether it is well placed to meet the challenges ahead. Studies have shown that innovation creates economic growth, a powerful driver not only for the water companies but also for their customers and the supply chain. With UK water companies drafting their PR14 (Price Review 2014) business plans, technology companies and investors are wondering whether AMP6 will be a good five years for technology suppliers. (Ofwat, the UK water services economic regulator, will set price limits in 2014 for the AMP6 investment period 2015-2020.)