Global innovation in photovoltaics

Insights from five decades of patenting 

Photovoltaics plays a vital role in today’s economy, and enables cleaner and renewable energy production, reduces fossil fuel dependence and contributes to global efforts to combat climate change. In 2023, the market was valued at nearly USD 100 billion (EUR 92 billion) and is expected to grow by 10% annually over the next five years. 

The latest technology insight report from the EPO’s Observatory on Patents and Technology, published in July 2025, presents technology trends in photovoltaics over the past five decades. It closely monitors patenting activities across more than 30 technologies in four sub-areas: photovoltaic materials, photovoltaics devices, the management of these devices, and application areas. The report also features case studies outlining innovative developments in this sector. 

The new insight report draws on the latest patent data from the EPO's worldwide patent databases and leverages the expertise of the EPO and of the European Innovation Council (EIC), Europe’s flagship innovation programme. 

Long-term trends

Technologies in the photovoltaics field have experienced significant growth over the past three decades. The number of photovoltaic inventions began growing considerably in the late 1990s and has multiplied since. While photovoltaic device technologies played a leading role from 1990-2023, accounting for more than three quarters of all inventions in some years, other sub-areas have steadily contributed in recent years. 

Geographic distribution of international patent activity

Looking at international patent families, the top 20 applicants between 1990 and 2023 were companies based in Japan, followed by the United States, Korea, Germany and France. Leading Chinese innovators do not feature in this list due to their primary focus on domestic patent applications. Patenting activities have generally shifted substantially towards China in the past 15 years, reflecting the growing importance of the country as a location for research, product development and manufacturing in the field of photovoltaics, and as a market. 

While China leads in photovoltaic panel production, Europe retains a competitive edge in deployment-related technologies - such as agrivoltaics (combining solar panels with agricultural land use) and installations on rooftops, carports and buildings.  

European research and startup strength

The report places special emphasis on European universities and startups. The latter entities primarily innovate in photovoltaic devices, followed by materials, and are increasingly active in application-related inventions. European universities consistently demonstrate high levels of inventive activity, particularly in photovoltaic devices and materials. 
 

Keywords: Technology insight reports, patent analysis, photovoltaics