Clean energy patents hit a record high in 2009, according to the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI) published by Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C.
The Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI) provides an indication of
the trend of innovative activity in the Clean Energy sector since 2002
in the U.S., along with Leading Patent Owners and Leading Country and
State information. Results through the fourth quarter of 2009 reveal
the CEPGI for 2009 to be at its highest level in the eight year period
of its tracking at 1125 granted patents, up over 20% from a year ago.
Honda (NYSE: HMC) again claimed the Clean Energy Patent crown in 2009 by edging
General Motors (NYSE: GM) out by four patents. Honda leads overall since 2002 and
automobile companies occupy 5 of the top ten patent leader spots since
2002. GE (NYSE: GE) made the top ten in 2009 continuing its strong showing in
clean energy patents having over twice the patents of its nearest wind
patent competitor, Aloys Wobben, the owner of Enercon GmbH of Germany.
Samsung (005930.KS) beat out the other non-automotive fuel cell patents holders
with Panasonic (NYSE: PC) and Toshiba (TOSBF.PK) not far behind. Canon (NYSE: CAJ), far and away the
solar photovoltaic patent leader, missed the top ten in 2009 and was
the only solar patent holder even close. Of additional note, relative
to 2009, Panasonic had 29 clean energy patents after having had only 6
in all the prior years. Further, Genedics had 8 clean energy patents in
2009 after having none in the years prior.
Patents in fuel cells and hybrid/electric vehicles were each up more than 20% over 2008 with solar patents up 60% and biomass/biofuel energy patents up 260%. Fuel Cells, wind, and biomass/biofuel energy patents were also at all time highs in 2009. In contrast, hydroelectric and tidal patents decreased in 2009 while geothermal patents were up only one patent over the year prior.
Geographically, US patent owners held far more US clean energy patents than any other individual country in 2009. However, Japanese entities were granted 65% of the US total while German patent owners had 18% of the US amount. Korea and Taiwan also overtook Canada for the fourth and fifth spots in 2009.
Looking at the U.S. data in more detail, Michigan edged California by three clean energy patents to claim the top spot for U.S. states. New York and Massachusetts had 60% and 30%, respectively, of California’s total while Connecticut, Texas, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio and Washington had between 10% and 18% of the amount granted to California entities.
Further information regarding the CEPGI is available at the link below.
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