# Energy patent attorneys for clean tech startups > Flat-fee energy patent attorney services for clean tech, battery and solar startups. Start with a $999 patentability search, refunded if it isn't patentable. Page: https://arapackelaw.com/industries/energy/ Title: Energy Patent Attorney for Clean Tech Startups Breadcrumb: [Home](https://arapackelaw.com/) / [Industries](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/) / [Energy and clean tech](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/energy/) We protect the cell, the system and the software that runs it, filed before a pilot or an award announcement makes them public. One flat fee for each step. - $999 patentability search - No hourly billing - Registered patent attorneys ## For the people who make, store and move energy. From a battery startup with its first cells to a developer improving how the grid is run, the work starts the same way. Find out what is new, then protect it before a pilot, a grant announcement or a paper. - **Solar and wind startups** Panels, trackers, turbines and the materials and controls that raise output or cut cost. - **Battery and storage teams** Cell chemistries, electrodes, packs and storage systems, from new materials to grid-scale installations. - **EV charging companies** Chargers, connectors and the networks and software that run them, many built around shared standards. - **Grid and energy software** Forecasting, demand response and grid management, claimed as technical improvements to how the system runs. ## Four things worth protecting in energy technology. Most energy products carry more than one kind of protection. A patent on the hardware or material, a patent on the control method, a design patent on how it looks and a trademark on its name each stop a different kind of copy. ### Cells, materials and hardware (utility patent) New chemistries, electrodes, panel structures, turbine parts and the methods that make them. Claims are written around a measurable advantage over what is installed today, such as more energy per kilogram, longer life or lower cost. - Battery cells and chemistries - Solar cells and modules - Hydrogen and fuel cells - Turbines and trackers ### Systems and control software (utility patent) Storage systems, charging networks and grid software, claimed as a specific technical process tied to how the equipment behaves, such as how a battery is charged or how a load is balanced. - Energy storage systems - EV charging and load management - Grid and microgrid control - Forecasting and demand response ### The look of the equipment (design patent) The ornamental design of a charger, a home battery, a panel or a control app screen, protected for 15 years from grant. - Chargers and connectors - Home batteries and enclosures - App and display screens Covered by The RLG Guarantee (USPTO denies it, full refund). ### The product and company name (trademark) Clear and file the name before it goes on installations, chargers and the product itself, so the name installers and customers ask for is one you can keep. - Product and network names - Company names - Logos Covered by The RLG Guarantee (Approved, or your money back). **Some things stay secret.** Electrode recipes, coating methods and manufacturing settings no one can learn from the finished product may be worth more as trade secrets than as published patents. Your attorney tells you which on your first call. ## Search, provisional, utility. Flat fees at every step. Every step is quoted before any work begins, and the search fee is credited when you file. Most energy founders file a provisional before a field pilot, a grant announcement or a conference paper, then the full application within 12 months. ### Start here, Patentability search **$999** flat fee. Patentable or your money back. Credited when you file. Report in about 5 days. - An invention discovery call with your attorney - A search of US and foreign patents and published applications - A written patentability report and a review call Covered by [The RLG Guarantee](https://arapackelaw.com/rlg-guarantee/) (Not patentable, full refund). ### Then, Provisional patent **$2,500 to $3,500** flat fee. . Patent pending the day it is filed. - A strategy call to capture how the technology works - Drafted by a registered patent attorney - You review and approve it before filing Covered by [The RLG Guarantee](https://arapackelaw.com/rlg-guarantee/) (Patentability issues, full refund). ### Within 12 months, Non-provisional patent **$7,000 to $12,000** flat fee. Drawings and USPTO filing fees included. Filed before your 12-month deadline. - Material, system and method claims written for examination - Formal drawings and USPTO filing fees - Complex systems quoted flat on your call Flat fee, not covered by the guarantee. ### Alongside the patent - **Design patent, $3,200.** For the charger, battery or app screen, office actions included. Covered by The RLG Guarantee. - **Trademark, $2,000.** For the product or company name, USPTO fee for one class included. Covered by The RLG Guarantee. ## File before the pilot. Plan for the funding. A patent decides who can make and sell the technology. Field pilots, award announcements and standards work decide when others first see it, and public funding can come with its own patent terms. The timing of each shapes the others. ### Patent, who can make and sell it 1. **Search** ($999). What is already out there? 2. **Provisional** (File first). Patent pending, before the pilot 3. **Full application** (Month 12). Within 12 months 4. **Examination** (USPTO). Track One can speed it up 5. **Granted**. Rights you can enforce ### Project, when others see it 1. **Lab and prototype** (Keep it in-house). Cells, modules and test rigs 2. **Funding application** (Read the patent terms). Grants and awards 3. **Field pilot** (Use an NDA). With a utility, a site host or a fleet 4. **Announcements and papers** (Disclosure risk). Award notices, press and conferences 5. **Commercial rollout**. Installations and sales **File before the pilot goes public.** A field pilot in public view, a conference paper, a press release or a public summary of a funded project can make an invention public. The US gives you one year after your own disclosure, but most other countries do not. File at least a provisional first. - **No green fast track today.** The USPTO ended its Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program in 2025, and the petition to make special for energy and environmental inventions went with its Accelerated Examination program the same year. Track One prioritized examination is open to any invention, for an extra USPTO fee that is lower for small and micro entities. [How long a patent takes](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/how-long-does-a-patent-take/) - **Government money changes ownership.** Federally funded research comes with a patent rights clause. Small businesses, universities and nonprofits can usually keep ownership if they disclose the invention and elect title on time, and the government gets a paid-up license to use it. Read the award's clause before the work starts. [How funding clauses work in defense](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/defense/) - **Standards shape charging and grid tech.** Chargers, connectors and grid equipment often follow shared standards. Until June 3, 2027 or its first 200 grants, the USPTO's SPARK pilot speeds up examination, with no petition fee, for small US companies, universities and nonprofits that take part in standards development. [Power electronics and charging hardware](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/electrical/) *General information, not legal advice. USPTO programs, award terms and standards policies change, and the ones that apply depend on your funding, your technology and your market.* ## Services for energy and clean tech companies. One firm for the patent, the brand and the agreements around them. - [Utility patents](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/utility-patents/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/patents/utility-patents.md). Protect the material, system or method. - [Provisional patents](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/provisional-patents/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/patents/provisional-patents.md). Patent pending before the pilot. Covered by The RLG Guarantee. - [Design patents](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/design-patents/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/patents/design-patents.md). Protect how the charger or battery looks. Covered by The RLG Guarantee. - [Trademarks](https://arapackelaw.com/trademarks/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/trademarks.md). Register the product and company name. Covered by The RLG Guarantee. - [Patent office actions](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/patent-office-actions/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/patents/patent-office-actions.md). Answer the examiner with a plan. - [Technology transfer agreements](https://arapackelaw.com/technology-transfer-agreements/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/technology-transfer-agreements.md). License technology from labs and universities. - [IP licensing agreements](https://arapackelaw.com/intellectual-property-licensing-agreements/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/intellectual-property-licensing-agreements.md). License technology in or out. - [Patent litigation](https://arapackelaw.com/ip-litigation/patent-litigation/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/ip-litigation/patent-litigation.md). Enforce or defend an energy patent. ## Before you file. ### Can clean energy technology be patented? Yes. Batteries, solar cells, turbines, hydrogen systems, chargers and grid software are examined under the same rules as any other invention. A new material, structure, system or control method can be patented when it is new and not obvious, and crowded fields like lithium-ion cells make a search the right first step. ### Is there a fast track for green technology patents? Not a green-specific one today. The USPTO ended its Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program in 2025 and removed the petition to make special for energy and environmental inventions the same year. Any utility application can request Track One prioritized examination, which the USPTO says aims for a final decision in about 12 months, for an extra fee that is lower for small and micro entities. ### Should a battery or solar process be patented or kept secret? If competitors cannot learn the process from the finished cell or panel and you could not tell when they use it, a trade secret can last as long as it stays secret. If the process leaves evidence in the product, a patent is often the better fit. Your attorney weighs it with you on the first call. ### Who owns an invention made with a federal energy grant? It depends on the award's patent rights clause. Under the Bayh-Dole Act, small businesses, universities and nonprofits can usually keep title if they disclose the invention and elect ownership on time, and the government receives a nonexclusive, paid-up license to use it. Other recipients can face different terms, so read the clause before work starts. ### When should an energy startup file a patent? Before a field pilot, a press release, a conference paper or a public summary of a funded project. The US gives inventors one year after their own disclosure, but most other countries require filing first, so a provisional keeps both options open. ### How much does an energy patent cost with your firm? Flat fees at every step. A $999 patentability search, a provisional application at $2,500 to $3,500 depending on the invention, and a non-provisional application at $7,000 to $12,000 with drawings and USPTO filing fees included. A design patent is $3,200. Every fee is quoted before work begins, and the search fee is credited toward your application. ### What does The RLG Guarantee cover for energy inventions? The patentability search, the provisional application, design patents and trademarks. If the search finds your invention is not novel, you get a full refund or another search. If patentability issues come up on your provisional, a full refund or more searches. If the USPTO denies your design application, you get a full refund. If it refuses your trademark, you get a refund or a new mark. Non-provisional applications are not covered. Refunds are subject to the RLG Guarantee Policy in your engagement letter. ## Your attorneys - [Andrew Rapacke](https://arapackelaw.com/learn-more/the-team/andrew-rapacke/), Managing Partner, Registered Patent Attorney. Electrical and computer engineering. Former Naval Engineering Officer. - [Ken Brooks](https://arapackelaw.com/team/ken-brooks/), Registered Patent Attorney. Software, AI and machine learning, electrical and mechanical systems. Meet the team at https://arapackelaw.com/learn-more/the-team/ ## Go deeper before you file. - [The Future of Innovation: Why the Proprietary vs Patented Debate Defines Competitive Success](https://arapackelaw.com/intellectual-property/proprietary-vs-patented-2/) - [How to Patent a Process and Build an Unbreakable Business Moat](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/how-to-patent-a-process/) - [5 Examples of Trade Secrets and How They Fit into Your Intellectual Property Strategy](https://arapackelaw.com/intellectual-property/examples-of-trade-secrets/) - [How Long Does a Patent Take From Filing to Grant](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/how-long-does-a-patent-take/) - [What Is a Patent Licensing Agreement? Key Terms and Why They Matter](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/patent-licensing-agreement/) - [Provisional Patent Application: The Fastest Way to Get Patent Pending](https://arapackelaw.com/patents/provisional-patent-application/) [All articles](https://arapackelaw.com/learning-center/) ## Other industries - [3D printing](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/3d-printing/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/3d-printing.md). Printers, processes, materials and the products they make. - [Aerospace](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/aerospace/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/aerospace.md). Aircraft, drones and spacecraft, protected before the first public flight. - [AI and machine learning](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/ai-machine-learning/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/ai-machine-learning.md). Models, training methods and the AI features inside your product. - [Autonomous vehicles](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/autonomous-vehicles/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/autonomous-vehicles.md). Sensing, navigation and control systems for vehicles that drive themselves. - [Blockchain](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/blockchain/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/blockchain.md). Protocols, wallets and the technical methods behind decentralized products. - [Computer hardware](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/computer-hardware/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/computer-hardware.md). Components, peripherals and the systems that tie them together. - [Consumer electronics](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/consumer-electronics/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/consumer-electronics.md). Devices people carry and use every day, from how they work to how they look. - [Consumer products](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/consumer-products/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/consumer-products.md). Everyday products and the brands on them, protected before launch. - [Cybersecurity](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/cybersecurity/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/cybersecurity.md). Security software and hardware, and what to patent or keep secret. - [Defense](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/defense/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/defense.md). Defense technology, planned around contracts and export rules. - [Digital health](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/digital-health/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/digital-health.md). Telehealth, remote monitoring and health apps, built around patient data. - [E-commerce](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/ecommerce/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/ecommerce.md). Online brands and Amazon sellers, from the trademark to the product itself. - [Electrical hardware](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/electrical/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/electrical.md). Power electronics, controls, sensors, batteries and motors, from circuit to system. - [Fintech](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/fintech/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/fintech.md). Payments, lending and trading technology, claimed as technical improvements. - [Gaming](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/gaming/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/gaming.md). Game engines, mechanics, controllers and titles, protected before the reveal. - [Medical devices](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/medical-devices/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/medical-devices.md). Devices, diagnostics and software as a medical device, timed with the FDA. - [Robotics](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/robotics/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/robotics.md). Robots, grippers and the software that moves them, protected before the pilot. - [Semiconductors](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/semiconductors/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/semiconductors.md). Chip design, fabrication processes and packaging. - [Software and SaaS](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/software-saas/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/software-saas.md). The methods your platform performs, protected however the code is written. - [Sporting goods](https://arapackelaw.com/industries/sporting-goods/) (Markdown https://arapackelaw.com/industries/sporting-goods.md). Equipment and gear, from how it performs to the design customers recognize. ## Next steps - [Book a free strategy call](https://arapackelaw.com/contact-us/) with a registered patent attorney, or call (954) 951-0154 - [Take the Intelligent IP Quiz](https://arapackelaw.com/intelligent-ip-quiz/) to see what to protect first - [The RLG Guarantee](https://arapackelaw.com/rlg-guarantee/), the refund promise on four services General information, not legal advice.