QAZAQ GREEN. Over the past decade, Kazakh inventors have patented wind turbines, solar panel cleaning systems, multi-stage solar and wind installations, and other renewable energy technologies, Kazinform reports.

According to the National Institute of Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan, 272 patents related to renewable energy were registered between 2015 and 2024.

"The largest number of patents—129—were granted for inventions utilizing wind energy. Another 61 patents were registered for hydrodynamic water energy technologies, while 44 focused on solar energy. The least patented area was geothermal energy, with 38 patents," the Institute stated.

One notable patent was registered in 2017 by Blok Shaikenov for a "Wind Wheel and Method of Manufacturing a Wind Wheel with Knee Bend Blades for Generating Economical Electricity." The technology, featuring a hockey stick-shaped wind wheel, improves energy efficiency and reduces material costs. It was later patented in Europe, the U.S., China, Japan, and South Korea and showcased at EXPO-2017.

In 2021, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University patented a system for removing dust from solar panels, optimizing energy efficiency. Meanwhile, Tree Energy, a Kazakh manufacturer of low-power renewable energy systems, obtained patents for wind turbines with capacities of 3, 5, and 10 kW.

In 2023, Satbayev University patented a hydropower generation system, later registered with the Eurasian Patent Office. The mini-hydropower system, designed for the nuclear industry, generates electricity by harnessing the hydrodynamic flow of process solutions.

Other patented innovations include a dome-shaped solar tracker, photovoltaic modules, a solar thermal storage reservoir, a vacuum fractal solar collector, and various solar heat supply systems.

However, the number of renewable energy patents could be higher. Many patents have been terminated early due to non-payment of state fees, which vary based on the applicant’s category (legal entities, individuals, or privileged persons).

The standard patent term in Kazakhstan is 5 years for utility models and 20 years for inventions, with an option to extend for three more years. If not maintained, patents enter the public domain.