EPO and IRENA Publishes Joint Patent Insight Report on Offshore Wind Energy

Offshore wind energy is a clean and renewable source of electricity generation and it plays a vital role in supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Joining forces with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the European Patent Office (EPO) has published a new patent insight report that explores the global evolution of patent filings published between 2002 and 2022 in the domain of offshore wind energy. Patent filing statistics serve as valuable indicators for assessing and analysing innovation, commercialisation, and knowledge transfer trends on a global scale. Additionally, they offer meaningful insights into shifts in technology trends and facilitate the identification of new players or consolidation efforts in the market. The overarching goal of this report is to provide clarity on how crucial technological challenges are being tackled through innovative means.

The report indicates that approximately 17,000 patent families related to offshore wind energy were published from 2002 to 2022, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 18%. Although growth stagnated between 2014 and 2017, recent years have witnessed a significant increase in patent filings.

Download the full report here.