Energy enabling technologies
Over 30% of clean energy international patent families (IPFs) come from energy enabling technologies. They are critical to unlocking the full potential of clean energy systems. Energy storage solutions, such as advanced batteries, help balance supply and demand by storing excess renewable power for use when generation is low. Smart grids enhance the reliability and efficiency of electricity distribution, optimising the integration of variable sources like wind and solar. Hydrogen, especially when produced using renewable electricity, offers a flexible, low-carbon energy carrier for hard-to-decarbonize sectors. Continuous innovation in these technologies is essential to creating a stable, resilient and fully decarbonized energy infrastructure.
Dive in
Battery circularity
This report sheds light on the hotspots of patenting in battery circularity, which includes the recycling and reuse of batteries and their repurposing for new applications. The report also explores the leading patent applicants in the field and the related technologies receiving the most attention.
Patents for enhanced electricity grids
The report sheds new light on the dynamics of grid-related innovation, the unsung hero of energy transition, by analysing data on European patent applications from 2001 to 2022.
Technology platform on clean energy technologies
Find thousands of patent applications relating to clean technologies classified by field. This curated platform makes it easy for researchers and inventors to explore the latest inventions by area.
Energy-enabling technologies at a glance
88-104 million km
is the estimated total length of electricity distribution grids worldwide as of 2021.
3 500 GWh
is the projected size of the global battery market by 2030, up from around 180 GWh in 2020 and 1 100 GWh in 2024.
EUR 5.1 bn
invested in battery startups by venture capital in 2023, according to the International Energy Agency
Q&A – Insights from the EPO
- Are enabling technologies really that important for the energy transition?
Yes, they are. You could even say that they oil the wheels of the energy transition. While renewable energy technologies are maturing and finding their way into the energy mix, the main driver of low-carbon energy growth since 2017 has been innovation in cross-cutting technologies such as batteries, hydrogen and smart grids, as well as carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) that serve as key enablers of the energy transition.
As shown in the graph below, low-carbon energy innovation is shifting from supply to end-use and enabling technologies.
- Which companies are the leading filers for patents in battery technology?
Most of today's leading filers of international patent families in battery technologies are manufacturers in Japan, China and Korea. Not only do these countries account for the majority of filings in this technological area, but they also show the highest growth.
- Why is battery circularity emerging as one of the fastest‑growing areas of innovation in energy technologies?
Battery circularity is growing rapidly because it builds on the strong expansion of battery technologies overall. Patenting data shows that battery innovation now dominates energy technology development, with energy storage accounting for around 40% of energy-related patenting in 2023 and moving towards 50%. Within this trend, patenting in battery circularity is growing even faster than battery patenting as a whole, reflecting an increasing focus on sustainability and on securing the supply of critical materials.
- What role do European startups and universities play in advancing battery circularity innovation?
European startups and universities are making a growing contribution to battery circularity and the refining of critical metals. Since 2006, more than 60 startups and universities have filed European patent applications in this field, with a clear upward trend. Startups and universities tend to focus on complementary technological areas − such as collection, sorting, and chemical processes − and their activity is spread across several countries, with notable clusters in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Nordic countries.
- Which end-users for hydrogen are innovating the most?
The automotive industry is filing by far the most patents in hydrogen use (particularly relating to fuel cells). Other notable industries are aviation, along with the iron and steel industry.
- Which regions lead in electrolyser patents and how does Europe compare?
Europe and Japan are the leading regions in electrolyser-related patenting, together accounting for more than 50% of international patent families across all five sub-technology areas. Europe leads in stackability of electrolysers, electrocatalyst materials, and cell operation conditions and structure, while Japan holds leading positions in photoelectrolysis and separator technologies.
- Are “smart grids” getting even smarter?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining a lot of traction in smart grid innovation. AI patenting grew by over 500% in the five years to 2022 and is now the most active area of patenting among enabling digital technologies, led by the United States and P.R. China.
The main area of AI-related IPFs is the “forecast and decision” category which boasts 39% of AI-related international patent families and drove rapid growth in AI-related electricity grid patenting from 2000 to 2022.
Publications
Dive into a collection of economic studies and insightful reports focused on energy-enabling technologies.
Access a comprehensive selection of economic studies on energy-enabling technologies
This report sheds light on the hotspots of patenting in battery circularity, the leading patent applicants in the field and the related technologies receiving the most attention.
The report sheds fresh light on the dynamics of grid-related innovation, the unsung hero of energy transition, by analysing data on European patent applications from 2001 to 2022.
The study examines the transition to low-carbon energy technologies across all sectors of the economy, showing that the pace of innovation has slowed to just a quarter of its level a decade ago.
Innovation case studies
Explore a series of innovation case studies showcasing how companies have successfully leveraged intellectual property in the field of energy supply technologies. These real-world examples highlight the role of IP in driving growth, securing funding and fostering innovation.
It offers one of the first commercialised technologies to use graphene, developing, manufacturing and selling ultracapacitor energy storage cells, modules and systems.
The company introduced their fibre optic measurement technology and has become a major provider of measurement solutions for wind power installations.
Tools
Find startups and investors in the energy-enabling technologies field
The Deep Tech Finder is your gateway to exploring Europe's innovation landscape. Designed for investors, researchers, startups and universities, this free tool connects you with key players in cutting-edge technology fields.
Technology platform on clean-energy technologies
Find thousands of patent applications on clean technologies classified by field. This curated platform makes it easy for researchers and inventors to explore the latest inventions by area.
Data Desk – dashboards
The Data Desk features several detailed technology maps that help users explore and analyse the full landscape of energy-storage technologies.
Podcasts
Battery circularity: how used electric vehicles’ batteries become future resources
What if millions of used electric vehicle (EV) batteries weren’t waste, but instead a valuable resource? This episode explores how battery circularity can extend the life of EV batteries, reduce uncertainty around obtaining critical materials like lithium and cobalt, and support a more sustainable energy future.
Patenting trends in hydrogen innovation
Innovation in hydrogen is booming, not only in production, but also in storage and applications. Current hydrogen production relies heavily on fossil fuels, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Electricity from renewable sources using new electrolyser technologies heralds a new era for this clean energy source.
A spin-out story
Building on innovative research from the German Technical University of Munich (TUM), start-up company Fos4X successfully developed and commercialised fibre optical sensor technology that makes wind turbines safer and less vulnerable to severe weather conditions.
Events
Past events organised by the Observatory
Explore the events we hosted and watch video recaps.
Carbon capture and storage: A new frontier in clean tech?
7 December 2023