Clean Energy Patents Hit High Mark in 2008

Clean energy patents hit an all-time high in 2008, and Honda (NYSE: HMC) again led the field, according to the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI), which tracks the granting of patents in the sector.

The index, published by Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C., provides an indication of the trend of innovative activity in the sector since 2002 in the U.S., along with leading patent owners and leading country and state information.

Results through 4Q08 reveal the CEPGI for 2008 to be at its highest level in the seven-year period of its tracking with 928 U.S. patents granted.

Patents in wind, fuel cells, hydroelectric, tidal and geothermal were up in 2008 over 2007 with hydroelectric and tidal patents at all time highs. In contrast, solar patents decreased slightly in 2008 and continued at a relatively steady pace since 2005.  Hybrid/electric vehicle and biomass/biofuel energy patents also fell in 2008.

Honda again claimed the Clean Energy Patent crown in 2008 by edging General Motors (NYSE: GM) out by two patents, and Honda leads overall since 2002.  Automobile companies occupy 5 of the top ten patent leader spots since 2002 with three more in the top 25.  Fuel Cell manufacturers Plug Power (Nasdaq: PLUG), Ballard (Nasdaq: BLDP) and United technologies (NYSE: UTX) also appear in the top ten patent owners. The remaining spots in the top ten are occupied by General Electric (NYSE: GE) on the strength primarily of its wind patents (with an assist from its solar technologies), and solar manufacturer Canon.

Geographically, U.S. patent owners and inventors tied the rest of the world in the number of U.S. patents granted in the clean energy field over the period 2002-2008.  California, Michigan, New York and Connecticut lead the other U.S. states with the first three garnering 25% of the clean energy patents granted to U.S. assignees since 2002. 

Patent applicants from Japan (29%) and Germany (8%) were issued the second and third largest number of U.S. patents.  Canada and South Korea followed with South Korea surpassing Canada in 2008.