Status: 03/29/2022 2:08 p.m
Within ten years, the number of patent applications in the field of renewable energies has plummeted. More innovation dynamics would be desirable for independence from fossil fuels.
In the case of alternative energy production, the number of patent applications at the German (DPMA) and the European Patent Office is stagnating: The DPMA announced that the two authorities will publish a total of 1099 patent applications for solar energy, wind and hydropower, geothermal energy, biogas and other alternative energy sources in 2021 to have. This roughly corresponded to the average for the past five years, but is slightly less than in the previous year.
In a longer-term comparison, however, the development of alternative energy production is well below the value of 2012. At that time, both authorities had published 2,246 patent applications with effect for Germany in the field of renewable energies – a minus of 51.1 percent. International patent applications to the World Intellectual Property Organization for renewable energies have also recently been on the decline.
“Enormous Economic Opportunities”
According to DPMA President Cornelia Rudloff-Schäffer, this should change: “The type of energy production plays a key role in the fight against climate change. In addition, the current political situation shows that we need to become less dependent on fossil fuels.” That is why more innovative dynamics are needed again for renewable energies.
“Technology leadership in this area promises enormous economic opportunities for Germany as an export nation. And it is an important contribution to Germany’s and Europe’s energy sovereignty,” according to Rudloff-Schäffer.
Germany at the top
A positive factor is that, according to the DPMA, Germany has a leading position in patent applications for climate-friendly technologies on the domestic market. In solar technology, hydropower and other regenerative energy sources such as geothermal energy and biogas, the country is in first place. However, according to the DPMA, Denmark leads the ranking in the technology area of wind power machines, which is by far the most registered, and Germany is in second place here. Two wind turbine manufacturers are at the fore here: the Spanish Siemens Energy subsidiary Siemens Gamesa and the Danish company Vestas.
High pace of innovation in battery technology
While the number of patent applications for renewable energies has collapsed, the development in the area of battery technology, which is important for the automotive industry, looks different. Within ten years, the number of patent applications for batteries has doubled. While there were 1,602 in 2012, the number climbed to 3,374 last year. This includes all applications for batteries, not just those developed for car engines.
According to the DPMA, the sharp increase in applications from China, which rose by almost 60 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year, is particularly striking. In absolute figures, German companies and developers were still in first place. In the manufacturer ranking, BMW is the only German company and the only automobile manufacturer to be in the top 5 (rank 4) for battery technology. Otherwise there are only Asian manufacturers.