Green energy patents filed hit 20,905 as innovation in the sector accelerates

The number of renewable energy patents filed worldwide jumped 28 per cent to 20,905 in 2018/19, up from 16,287 the previous year, according to UK commercial law firm EMW.

An analysis conducted by EMW shows companies in China filed 81 per cent of the renewable energy patents in 2018/19. The US came in second, filing 8 per cent of total green energy patents. China has been the largest investor in renewable energy over the last decade, investing $758 billion.

The analysis looks at patents filed for solar power, wind energy, biofuels, hydropower, geothermal energy and waste-generated energy. The solar power sector was found to attract the most patent filings, accounting for 57 per cent of the total green energy patents.