《IRENA &amp EPO：2023海上風能專利洞察報告（英文版）（59頁）.pdf》由會員分享，可在線閱讀，更多相關《IRENA &amp EPO：2023海上風能專利洞察報告（英文版）（59頁）.pdf（59頁珍藏版）》請在三個皮匠報告上搜索。

1、epo.orgOffshore wind energyPatent insight reportNovember 2023OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|02ContentsExecutive summary 031.Introduction 061.1 The role of offshore wind energy in energy transition.061.2 About the study .082.Methodology 092.1 Using patent information.092.2 Patent s

2、earch.093.Results 143.1 Patent trends in offshore wind energy technologies.143.1.1 Patent filings.143.1.2 Top applicant countries.173.1.3 Top patent offices.193.1.4 Top applicants.203.1.5 Maturity map.253.1.6 Citations .273.2 Technology concept grouping.303.2.1 Fixed and floating foundations(QA&QB).

3、313.2.2 Towers(QH).353.2.3 Mechanical power transmission(QC).383.2.4 Blades and rotors(QI).423.2.5 Hybrid systems:solar and ocean energy(QE).463.2.6 Energy Storage(QD).503.2.7 Grid,submarine cables and protections(QJ&QL).524.Conclusion 54Glossary and notes 56Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Int

4、roduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.ConclusionOFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|03OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|03Executive summaryOffshore wind energy is a clean and renewable source of electricity generation.It helps to combat climate change(UN Sustainable Devel

5、opment Goal 13)by reducing greenhouse gas emissions,air pollution and the reliance on fossil fuels for electricity production,thus contributing to a more sustainable energy mix.Offshore wind energy plays a significant role in supporting UN Sustainable Development Goal 7(SDG 7),which aims to ensure a

6、ccess to affordable,reliable and sustainable energy for all by 2030.In a collaborative effort by the European Patent Office(EPO)and the International Renewable Energy Agency(IRENA),this patent insight report examines the global evolution of patent filings published between 2002 and 2022 in the domai

7、n of offshore wind energy.Patent filing statistics provide insightful indicators for measuring and examining innovation,commercialisation and knowledge transfer trends across international markets.They also provide meaningful information on changes in technology trends and make it easier to identify

8、 new players or consolidation efforts.All in all,this report aims to shed light on how key technological challenges are being addressed via innovation.Using a proven EPO data analysis methodology,this reports findings consider information from roughly 17000 patents(from the EPOs patent database).The

9、se patents cover inventions related to offshore wind energy,including key technology concept groupings such as:fixed and floating foundations,towers,mechanical power transmission,blades and rotors,hybrid systems,energy storage,and grids and submarine cables.Policy insightsPatent data show a massive

10、surge in global patent filings from 2006 to 2012,followed by a stagnation until 2017 when patent activity witnessed a resurgence.Floating foundations,transportation,and mechanical transmission accounted for the largest number of patents within the offshore wind area.Some key policy insights from the

11、 patent data are summarised below:1.Increased invention in offshore wind with dominance in Europa,Asia and USA emerging as future market.In the ranking of the top ten countries in filed International Patent Families(IPFs),seven countries are European,with Germany and Denmark in the lead.The USA is t

12、hird while China and Japan rank fourth and fifth respectively(the Republic of Korea ranks 11th).As for non-IPF patents mainly for domestic markets(i.e.not protected internationally),China leads,which reflects its reliance on a large local market for offshore wind.2.Floating foundation,logistics and

13、green hydrogen attract invention activity.Most inventions for offshore wind focus on three areas:floating foundations,transportation equipment,and the installation and erection of turbines.It is worth noting that a fourth area is rapidly scaling up in innovation activity,bining offshore wind and ele

14、ctrolysers,indicating great expectations of a large green-hydrogen economy as a value creation opportunity.3.Floating foundations pose to expand offshore wind markets.Market trends indicate a growing interest in developing floating foundations given their potential for siting turbines in deeper wate

15、rs with abundant wind potential.This is confirmed by patent data,which shows that industry players are innovating in this technology area.4.Tower and blade designs to reduce steel demand and enhance sustainability.Players in the offshore wind sector are also looking into alternative designs for towe

16、rs(i.e.concrete and lattice structures),which may reduce demand for steel.They are also exploring modular blade assembly options,as well as sustainable and recyclable blades,to promote circularity and address manufacturing and transportation challenges.Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduct

17、ion|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|04OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|045.Increased use of rare earth materials in drive trains.Here the trend shows continued interest in direct-drive systems due to their effective cost-weight-

18、power density ratio;however that trend would mean an increase in the utilisation of permanent synchronous magnet generators.The increase in the use of permanent magnets would,in turn,result in higher demand for rare earth materials needed to manufacture them.6.On-site energy storage and hydrogen pro

19、duction to balance power systems and create additional value.There is a growing focus on flexible energy systems to counter the variability of renewable technologies.Patent data in offshore wind energy technologies also show a growing interest in energy storage options,especially in the combination

20、of offshore wind parks and hydrogen production,which offer the added benefit of helping to decarbonize activities.7.Uptake of submarine electrical infrastructure.The need for transmission infrastructure is also driving innovation activities and patent data reveals that there are many corresponding i

21、nnovations in submarine cabling to connect supply and demand cost-effectively.8.Moderate interest in hybridising offshore wind with other energy generation sources.To expand the potential of offshore wind solutions there are increasing efforts to combine offshore energy generation with other technol

22、ogies such as PV or ocean energy.Insights from patents reveal that innovation activities remain steady since 2013.This can potentially be ascribed to the declining cost of offshore wind that acts as disincentivise given the complexity associated with the hybridisation of offshore wind with additiona

23、l ocean technologies in terms of operation and maintenance.Summary of patent data trendsFiling statistics:From 2002 to 2022,about 17000 patent families related to offshore wind energy were published,reflecting an average annual increase of 18%.Between 2014 and 2017 filings stagnated,but this was fol

24、lowed by a steep increase.The top applicant country is China(52%of the total patent families),followed by the Republic of Korea(6%),Germany(5%),Japan(5%),USA(4%),and Denmark(4%).Twenty-seven percent of all offshore wind energy patent families are international patent families(IPFs)i.e.excluding sing

25、le domestic filings.More specifically 79%of the total patent families developed by European countries are IPFs,as-are 64%by the United States of America.Four percent of Chinese patent families are international.Sixty-seven percent of all offshore wind energy IPFs include at least one granted patent

26、application.For all granted EP applications,68%are still in force in at least 1 member state.(10%more than the average).Main actors:Vestas,Siemens,General Electric,Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Hitachi are the top IPF applicants.In the last 5 years,RWE Renewables and Itrec have entered the top fiv

27、e,replacing Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Hitachi.France has the highest number of patent families with international cooperation.The United States of America has the most diverse co-operation picture,pairing with 24 countries on a total of 81 patent families.Germany co-operates with 15 countries

28、on a total of 79 patent families.From 2017 onwards,Chinese applications are increasingly more cited.Most citations come from other Chinese applications(and applicants),but also by applications from Germany,Denmark and USA,which indicates advances in patent quality.Table of contents|Executive summary

29、|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|05OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|05 Until 2012,patent applicants who are natural persons used to file 50%of all patent applications,on a par with companies.Since then,that share

30、has successively decreased to its current level of 6%.From 2013 onwards a consolidation across patent applicants can be seen,with mergers and acquisitions leading to fewer applicants,far fewer natural person applicants,but similar total numbers of patent applications are filed with the same grant ra

31、tes,which suggests no reduction in the quality of applications.Main technologies:Floating foundations lead in IPFs(49%),followed by transportation,installation and erection(26%).Combining offshore wind turbines and electrolysers is an emerging trend:the number of IPFs doubled between 2020 and 2021,w

32、ith signs of this trend continuing in 2022.Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|06OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|061.Introduction1.1 The role of offshore wind energy in energy tran

33、sition Climate change is already impacting the worlds largest economies as well as emerging economies and,urges the decision makers and stakeholders to adopt corrective actions urgently to tackle the global climate emergency.IRENAs World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023 edition has once again shown t

34、hat the renewables based energy transition is the solution to the fight against climate change and the pace of the transition is currently off-track1.Limiting global warming to 1.5C will require cutting carbon dioxide(CO2)emissions by around 37 gigatonnes(Gt)from 2022 levels to achieve a net zero sc

35、enario in the energy sector by 2050.This will require a profound transformation of energy systems,including a massive deployment of renewable generation capacity.In 2022,IRENAs statistics show that renewables accounted for 83%of new annual generation capacity additions,with an additional 295 gigawat

36、ts(GW),reaching 40%of the total global installed capacity2.Under IRENAs 1.5C scenario,renewable generating capacity will need to reach above 33 000 GW by 2050.3By 2050,wind(onshore and offshore)would significantly increase from the current 900 GW up to more than 10000 GW,representing almost one-thir

37、d of the total installed capacity from renewable sources.In terms of offshore wind,the global installed capacity would reach almost 2500 GW by 2050.This entails a 40 times increase from todays level(63 GW by 2022)and makes offshore wind one of the leading technologies in the bid to achieve global cl

38、imate targets within the next three decades.1 IRENA(2023),World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023:1.5C Pathway,Volume 1,International Renewable Energy Agency,Abu Dhabi.https:/www.irena.org/Publications/2023/Jun/World-Energy-Transitions-Outlook-2023 2 https:/www.irena.org/Publications/2023/Jul/Renewabl

39、e-energy-statistics-20233 IRENA(2023),World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023:1.5C Pathway,Volume 1,International Renewable Energy Agency,Abu Dhabi.https:/www.irena.org/Publications/2023/Jun/World-Energy-Transitions-Outlook-2023Yet the deployment of offshore wind comes with its own challenges.Even tho

40、ugh the technology itself has experienced sharp cost reductions a fall of 59%in the levelised cost of electricity(LCOE)4 between 2010-2022,current commodity price inflation and higher interest rates are proving a challenging environment.In addition,aspects such as integrating this technology into th

41、e energy system via new interconnections,supply chain bottlenecks and logistical challenges,the demand for critical materials and recycling or the need for larger turbines and more robust foundations,among other factors,require further efforts,if we are to accelerate the sectors to the energy transi

42、tion.Today,the offshore wind market remains smaller than the onshore wind market,with total installed capacities reaching 63 GW by 2022.Considering the current plans and targets set by countries as per IRENAs Planned Energy Scenario(PES),the global cumulative offshore wind capacity is expected to re

43、ach 275 GW by 2030 and close to 1200 GW by 2050 respectively.This still falls behind of the 494GW and 2465GW targets by 2030 and 2050 respectively in IRENAs 1.5C Scenario.54 IRENA(2023),Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2022,International Renewable Energy Agency,Abu Dhabi.https:/www.irena.org/Publ

44、ications/2023/Aug/Renewable-Power-Generation-Costs-in-20225 IRENA(2023),World Energy Transitions Outlook:1.5C Pathway,International Renewable Energy Agency,Abu Dhabi.https:/www.irena.org/Publications/2023/Jun/World-Energy-Transitions-Outlook-2023 Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.

45、Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion 4040302010Turbine size (MW)9631Avg.distance from shore(km)1601401201008060402002010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022Levelised cost of electricity 2021 USD/kWhTotal intalled cost 2021 USD/kW0.1970.1750.1820.1230.1060.0880.0815 2885 8844 6475 1343 4833

46、 4615 217Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|08OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|081.2 About the study The objective of this study is to examine the global evolution of patent filing

47、s to identify major trends in the field of offshore wind energy and pinpoint market and technology gaps as well as opportunities relevant to the contribution of offshore wind to the energy transition.The report aims to provide useful insights for interested players in the field and policymakers to l

48、everage actions and initiatives for further developing and deploying offshore wind-related technologies,thereby enabling offshore wind energy in the energy system.The study uses various resources for this purpose,including EPO patent databases and registers and other public reports available.It also

49、 benefits from the technical expertise in the field of both IRENA and the EPO.According to their respective missions and activities,the EPO and IRENA share a common interest in the study of patent filing statistics to improve understanding of trends affecting the transition to a sustainable energy f

50、uture using renewable energy sources.In 2023,IRENA and the EPO extended their memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation to promote innovation in the field of renewable energy technologies10,and committed to publish regular patent landscape reports focusing on specific technological areas.

51、11Building on this long-standing EPO-IRENA collaboration,the present insight report assesses patent filing statistics in the offshore wind energy domain.The growing political interest around the globe in climate-neutral energy production,energy storage technologies and the promise that offshore wind

52、 energy offers is the driving force behind a great momentum for innovation and spin-off activities.10 EPO and IRENA enhance co-operation on patent information about renewable energy technologies.11 In 2022,EPO and IRENA published a patent insight report on innovation trends in electrolysers for hydr

53、ogen production,which you can download at:https:/www.epo.org/news-events/news/2022/20220512.htmlOffshore wind energy,which can be considered a key technology for the energy transition,requires continuous improvement to harness its full potential and benefit not only the energy domain,but also econom

54、ies and societies.In this sense,the growth of offshore wind energy has brought new business opportunities for the energy industry and changed the dynamics of the energy market.Among other benefits,its technological progress has led to the development of new solutions such as larger turbines,better t

55、ransmission systems and special ships to install the turbines,while also creating jobs in the renewable energy sector.Overall,offshore wind energy is disrupting the energy industry by providing a new and sustainable source of energy that has the potential to meet the worlds growing energy needs.Even

56、 though patent filings show a steep increase in the last 10 years,major innovations in offshore wind energy technology are still needed to realise its full potential.Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.

57、org|09OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|092.MethodologyThis section introduces the main sources of information as well as the approach adopted to extract relevant information from the various datasets.Key patent-related concepts are explained as well as the rationale followed to sele

58、ct the seven technology concept groupings related to offshore wind energy technologies.Hence,the aim of the section is to provide the framework for understanding the results presented in this report.2.1 Using patent informationPatents are exclusive rights that can only be granted for inventions that

59、 are novel and inventive.12 High-quality patents are assets which can help attract investment,secure licensing deals and provide market exclusivity.Patent owners pay annual fees to maintain patents in those countries that are of commercial value to them and protect their inventions from being used b

60、y competitors,for example.In exchange for these exclusive rights,all patent applications are published,revealing the technical details of the protected inventions.This allows other researchers to build on the published inventions of other inventors and avoid the mistake of investing in developing a

61、solution for a problem that has already been solved by others.Patent databases contain a wealth of technical information,much of which cannot be found in any other source.The EPOs free Espacenet13 database contains more than 140 million documents from over 100 countries.Patent filing statistics prov

62、ide interesting indicators to measure and examine innovation,commercialisation and knowledge transfer trends.They also provide a means of observing changes in technology trends as well as identifying new players or consolidation efforts.This can reveal new insights into trends in the offshore wind e

63、nergy sector and help support informed decision-making processes.2.2 Patent searchThis patent insight report provides a snapshot of the patent situation of offshore wind energy technologies.Although some technologies are equally applicable to onshore and offshore,this report defines the patent searc

64、h strategies for most of the concepts and sub-12 epo.org/learning/materials/inventors-handbook/novelty.html.13 https:/ so that there would be a specific“offshore aspect”mentioned in the patent text or covered by the patent classification codes.As for previous EPO patent insight reports,the approach

65、to this work begins with a state-of-the-art search for the relevant technology in selected patent databases.A search strategy is developed with an expert examiner in the field,and search results are then analysed to answer specific questions about patterns of patenting activity or innovation.The res

66、ults are presented visually to assist understanding and allow conclusions to be reached and recommendations to be made based on the empirical evidence.The information,data and analysis provided in this report are primarily based on a targeted utilisation of EPO patent databases(PATSTAT,Espacenet,EP

67、register and other dedicated patent examiner sources).Only relevant patent publications in the period from 2002 to 2022(earliest publication year within the patent family)were considered.The identification of the relevant areas of technology and the creation of the technology-specific search strateg

68、ies were undertaken by an EPO examiner expert in the offshore wind energy field and by IRENA experts.All search queries(summarised in Figure 2.2)were adapted as well14 as possible to the free Espacenet tool.Detailed search queries based on the EPOs free Espacenet tool are provided in a separate exce

69、l document.This allows the reader to monitor future changes in the covered technologies.15 An automatic and manual data harmonisation process has been implemented to enhance the accuracy and completeness of the final dataset.16Each query is identifiable via a different label(QA,QB,etc.)and these cor

70、respond to concepts and sub-concepts related to offshore wind energy technologies.Not all documented queries have been used for the study in this report.Although the report strongly centres on the technology used for offshore wind energy(Q0),other concepts or detail views have not been limited to 14

71、 Internal EPO systems allow more complex searches than the ESPACENET tool.15 IPC and CPC patent classification codes as well as the keywords used may change when a technology matures.16 Pasimeni,F.(2019).SQL query to increase data accuracy and completeness in PATSTAT.World Patent Information,57,1-7.

72、https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.wpi.2019.02.001Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|10OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|10offshore or wind energy.For instance,(QL)submarine cables(conductors

73、),(QL1)protection and(QM)recycling have not been limited to offshore or wind energy because the technology used in submarine cables is the same as what is used to transport electricity between countries divided by water.Equally,the technology used for recycling turbine blades is not limited to turbi

74、ne blades for offshore use.The total number of patent families used in this report(extracted via concepts QA to QL and published between 2002 and 2022)is about 17 000(covering 33 000 unique applications).17As illustrated in Figure 2.2,this report defines seven technology concept groupings relevant t

75、o offshore energy,following this rationale:Fixed and floating foundations Rationale:With the arrival of ever bigger turbines to improve efficiency,floating platforms have made it possible to harness wind energy in deeper waters.This however comes with its own challenges such as anchoring,stabilisati

76、on and maintenance.Towers Rationale:Tower structures have to fulfil multiple requirements regarding cost-effectiveness,weight,durability,strength,and ease of installation.Depending on the environmental conditions,different concepts or combinations of concepts can be considered.Mechanical power trans

77、mission Rationale:Two competing types of drive systems share the focus of current lines of development and innovation.The gearbox approach transforms slow speed and high torque to higher speeds required by the generator.In direct-drive approach,the wind turbines directly power a synchronous generato

78、r.17 The total number of patent families in the dataset is around 26 000,meaning that about 9 000 patent families are not being considered for this report.Those patent families left out cover technical areas such as:monitoring,testing,controlling,diagnostics,AC/DC circuit arrangements,and hydraulic

79、engineering.Blades and rotors Rationale:Unique harsh operating conditions and the need for larger blades to capture more energy require adaptations in design using advanced composites and special monitoring techniques.Hybrid systems Rationale:Hybrid systems combine offshore wind energy with other so

80、urces of energy to produce electricity;typically wave or solar energy.Energy storage Rationale:Renewable energy,be it produced by wind,solar or ocean energy,is often dictated by weather conditions.Innovative solutions are needed to capture and store the produced energy when there is an oversupply an

81、d release it when demand peaks.Grid,submarine cables and protections Rationale:Submarine cables are needed to transport the electricity to the consumers on shore.Harsh conditions shorten their lifespan and they require complex repairs when needed.Extra measures need to be taken to protect submarine

82、cables against damage.Throughout the report,detailed views are also provided in the“blue boxes”that focus on other relevant areas touching upon offshore wind energy technology.These relate to transportation,installation and erection of wind turbines,aquaculture,desalination,corrosion protection,gene

83、rators,recycling,and patents for monitoring waves.Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|11OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|11When using IPC and CPC classification codes to extract pat

84、ents for statistical analysis,readers must bear in mind that it is in the patent applicants interest to get the broadest possible scope of protection for the invention.Therefore,a patent will not be restricted to the combination of elements in which the applicant is developing its technology.As a re

85、sult,some aspects may be inaccurately attributed to a patent application in the sense that a particular technical aspect may be developed for a specific technology without being explicitly indicated in the patent application or reflected in the patent classification.The patents extracted and grouped

86、 under(QL)submarine cables(conductors)provide an example of this aspect.Just over 2%of submarine cables patent families are also classified specifically for offshore wind energy.Data mining(optimising search queries)and curation were conducted by the EPO in line with existing best practices of EPO e

87、xperts and patent examiners.A challenge in this report was defining the boundaries for the various datasets of patents.This leads to quite large overlaps between the different technology concepts and the relevant patent families.Keywords were often used to create a better separation of the various c

88、oncepts.Throughout the report,patent filing statistics are addressed at different levels of aggregation whenever appropriate.Patent numbers are quantified by the distinct count of patent families.18 In addressing the patent filing data through the lens of origin of innovation,it is important to note

89、 that different filing strategies by stakeholders from different countries can have an 18 epo.org/searching-for-patents/helpful-resources/first-time-here/patent-families.html.Figure 2.2:This figure shows a summary of the technology concepts analysed in this report.The Q-codes within the square brack

90、ets indicate the corresponding query or the EPO patent databases from which data are sourced.ConceptgroupingConceptSub-conceptFixed and floating foundationsFixedQASuction caissonQA1TowersTowersQHWelded or tubular steelQH1Mechanical power transmissionMechanical power transmissionQCBlades and rotorsBl

91、ades/rotorsQIBlades/rotors modularQI1Hybrid system Hybrid system QESolarQE1Energy storageEnergy storageQDCompressed air QD1Grid,submarine cables and protectionGridsQJ ProtectionQL1GravityQA2MonopileQA3FloatingQBStabilisationQB1Lattice QH2ConcreteQH3Direct driveQC1GearboxQC2Ocean energyQE2KineticQD2B

92、atteryQD3HydrogenQD4ThermalQD5Submarine cables QLDetail viewTransporta-tion/installation/erectionQKCorrosion protectionQFGeneratorsEspacenetRecyclingEspacenetMonitoring wavesQGAquacultureEspacenetDesalinationEspacenetOffshore wind energyTable of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodolog

93、y|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|12OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|12impact on the overall statistics and on the conclusions.For instance,Chinese applicants choose predominantly domestic filings and do not file for patents on a comparable s

94、cale internationally.19 In addition,Chinese applicants often file utility models as well as patents on the same or similar inventions,which increases Chinese filing numbers when simply counting patent filings or even families.This report uses a stricter concept of patent families called internationa

95、l patent families(IPFs).This concept excludes all single national patent families that have only been filed in the country of the applicant20.Patent families with applications having applicants or inventors from different countries were also considered to be international patent families.EP and WO f

96、ilings21 as well as any other regional office filings are by default IPFs.Of the about 17 000 patent families used in this report(extracted within concepts from QA to QL and published between 2002 and 2022),4657 are IPFs(about 27%),grouping a total of 20 165 unique patent applications.The fact that

97、patent families can belong to different concepts will lead to a statistical double counting in some of the graphs because the patent family will be considered relevant for each of the concepts.A similar double counting occurs at the country(applicant,patent office)level analysis when an application

98、has applicants from different countries,or when patent family members are filed at multiple patent authorities.19 Pasimeni,F.,Fiorini,A.,&Georgakaki,A.(2021).International landscape of the inventive activity on climate change mitigation technologies.A patent analysis.Energy Strategy Reviews,36,10067

99、7.https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2021.10067720 Applicant countries and filing authorities are abbreviated throughout the report according to WIPO STANDARD ST.3:https:/www.wipo.int/standards/en/pdf/03-03-01.pdf 21 EP denotes filings at the European Patent Office and WO those at the World Intellectual P

100、roperty OrganizationTable of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|13OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|13Box 2:International technical standardization of offshore wind22The international standa

101、rdisation of offshore wind technology encompasses various aspects,including design,production,safety,testing and analysis,aimed at optimising operations.From 2004 to 2020,a total of 33 international standards were established for wind energy technologies.Within this period,26 standards were applicab

102、le to both onshore and offshore wind energy,with an additional 5 focusing solely on offshore or floating wind.Many of these standards emerged after 2012,indicating technology maturity and progression to commercialisation.Offshore wind technology has gained global interest,with participation by vario

103、us countries often tied to their intent to commercialise wind-related innovations.The number of participating member countries involved in developinginternational technical standards for wind energy covering both onshore and offshore domains grew steadily from 16 to 33 between 2004 and 2020.Taking o

104、bserver countries into account,the total count reached 41 in 2020.An observation emerges that wealthier economies are more actively engaged in this technological field compared to other economies,as most observer countries in the wind technical committee count among the latter category.To ensure the

105、 widespread dissemination of offshore wind technologies,it is crucial for less developed economies to play a role in the standardisation process.International standardisation bodies should facilitate increased participation from developing nations or professionals from countries with limited technic

106、al expertise.22 Source:IRENA(2022),Renewable Technology Innovation Indicators:Mapping progress in costs,patents and standards,International Renewable Energy Agency,Abu Dhabi.https:/www.irena.org/publications/2022/Mar/Renewable-Technology-Innovation-IndicatorsCountries in technical committee on wind

107、energy Standard developedParticipating countyObserver countyNumber of inventions(2007-2019)25020015010050010.51111.51212.51313.5Log_GDP(2020)2613020042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020 Annual addition Cumulative up to previous yearJapanRepublic of KoreaChinaGermanyUnite

108、d States of AmericaUnited KingdomFranceSpainNetherlandsBrazilPolandPolandNorwayDenmarkUkraineRomania12222222467101215152226Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|14OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT R

109、EPORTepo.org|143.ResultsThis section presents the key results,including technology insights and interpretations.First,in section 3.1,results are presented by looking at all the queries run to identify relevant areas related to offshore wind energy technologies.Then,in section 3.2.,the focus of the a

110、nalysis moves to the seven technology concept groupings,each of which are analysed in a dedicated sub-section.All results are presented based on the following structure:global patenting trends are shown first,then the analysis moves to countries of the applicants,and concludes by focusing on the top

111、 patent applicants.Further detailed views and observations are provided in the“blue boxes”.3.1 Patent trends in offshore wind energy technologiesThe following sub-sections present the insights on offshore wind energy technologies by focusing on six specific patent metrics.The first of these sub-sect

112、ions,3.1.1,illustrates the main patenting trends,followed by insights related to both top patenting countries(section 3.1.2)and top patent offices(section 3.1.3),each focusing on countries where IPFs are developed and on countries where IPFs are legally protected by national patent authorities.Top p

113、atent applicants are presented in section 3.1.4,while section 3.1.5 focuses on patent citations.Section 3.1.6 introduces the maturity map,which summarises the main phases of patent development related to offshore wind energy technologies.Interactive data in public Tableau workbook3.1.1 Patent filing

114、sFollowing an initial phase marked by limited patent filings,the patenting activity in offshore wind energy technologies experienced a notable surge starting in 2006.Subsequently,a period of consistent annual expansion persisted until 2012.As shown in Figure 3.1.1,the evolution of patenting activity

115、 presents a slight dip in the following years.Nevertheless,a new increasing trend emerges from 2017 onward,maintaining momentum up to the present moment.This trend is similar either when all patent families or only IPFs are plotted(in the top and bottom bar chart in Figure 3.1.1,respectively).These

116、innovations led to cost reductions over the past decade,enabling the exploration of alternative offshore installation methods,including greater distances from the coast and deeper waters.As a result,these advancements have contributed to achieving the notably high installed offshore wind capacity.23

117、On annual average,IPFs account for about 40%of the total patent families(more on this later),and Figure 3.1.1 also indicates that the largest number of patent families concern QB floating,with these accounting for about 27%of the total number of IPFs,followed by QK transportation,installation and er

118、ection(14%)and QC mechanical power transmission(12%).23 IRENA(2022),Renewable Technology Innovation Indicators:Mapping progress in costs,patents and standards,International Renewable Energy Agency,Abu Dhabi.https:/www.irena.org/publications/2022/Mar/Renewable-Technology-Innovation-Indicators Table o

119、f contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|15OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|15Figure 3.1.1:Trend in all patent families(2002-2022)Trend in all patent families(top)and international patent famil

120、ies(bottom)between 2002 and 2022 for the 12 queries(QA to QL)run for this report.All patent families3 5003 0002 5002 0001 5001 0005000200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022 QA:fixed foundations QB:floating foundations QC:mechanical power transmission QD:

121、energy storage QE:hybrid system QF:corrosion protection QG:monitoring waves QH:tower QI:blades,rotors QJ:grid QK:transportation,installation,erection QL:submarine cables conductorsInternational patent families(IPF)70060050040030020010002002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017

122、20182019202020212022 QA:fixed foundations QB:floating foundations QC:mechanical power transmission QD:energy storage QE:hybrid system QF:corrosion protection QG:monitoring waves QH:tower QI:blades,rotors QJ:grid QK:transportation,installation,erection QL:submarine cables conductorsTable of contents|

123、Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|16OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|16Box 3:Granted patent applications in IPF for offshore wind energyThe number of granted patents is a good measure of innovative

124、 quality and economic importance.Granted patent applications are usually considered to be a better indicator of the quality of the patents because only patents fulfilling all the requirements of patentability24 will effectively be granted.A growing number of granted patent applications indicates the

125、 willingness of patent owners to invest resources to protect the market share where the invention might be used to generate income.The bar chart below shows the trend of the net number of granted patent applications(dark blue)in comparison to patent applications that were not granted(light blue)in i

126、nternational patent families(IPF).In fact,an IPF is composed by one or more patent applications,and these might be(or might be not)granted.In the chart,the horizontal axis indicates the earliest publication year of the family.A sustained increase in the number of granted patents is seen up to 2013(a

127、bout 60%on annual average),which indicates a general increase in the capacities acquired for the development of new offshore wind technology.In subsequent years,the share of granted applications decreases,also due to the time needed for a patent to be granted after its application has been filed(whi

128、ch is about 38 months for EPO applications).Please also note that data for 2022 are incomplete because there are delays on data deliveries,which is the reason for the lower total in that year.24 At the EPO this means that the inventions are new,involve an inventive step and are susceptible of indust

129、rial application(see Article 52 EPC).Granted patent applications(2002-2022)Granted patent applications1 60080%1 20060%80040%40020%00200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022Earliest publication year Granted Not granted%grantedTable of contents|Executive sum

130、mary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|17OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|173.1.2 Top applicant countriesLooking at the patent filing data by origin of innovation(based on the country of business of the applicant),i

131、t is important to note that different filing strategies followed by stakeholders from different countries have an impact on the overall statistics.The main source of the general upswing trend and higher numbers on the left in Figure 3.1.1 is the number of patents filed in China,mostly by Chinese app

132、licants.Chinese applicants have a high focus on the domestic market,as only 4%of patents filed by Chinese applicants are international(400 IPFs out of a total of 9193 applications;see the chart at left in Figure 3.1.2).A detailed analysis shows that patents filed in China are often utility models25

133、that do not have any further patent filings in other patent jurisdictions.Moreover,Chinese applicants often file patents as well as utility models for the same or similar inventions,which increases overall filing numbers.Despite its heavily domestic focus,Chinese applicants are still in fourth place

134、 in terms of international patent families.In addition,the EPC26 countries as well as the United States of America follow a filing strategy that results in 79%and 64%of the applications,respectively,being flagged as international patent filings.Europes position is an important finding in view of the

135、 strategic importance attributed to the“European Green Deal”(Figure 3.1.2).25 A utility model has a lower standard for inventive step than that for an invention patent.They are often issued without examination,and the right granted tends to be shorter than a patent.(10 years in China)26 The group EP

136、C represents applicants from the 39 Member States of the European Patent Organisation.Full list here:epo.org/about-us/foundation/member-states.htmlFigure 3.1.2:Top applicant countries related to offshore wind energy in 2002-2022,including all 12 queries from QA to QL.The chart on the left shows the

137、top countries and the difference between IPFs and non-IPFs(number in brackets represents the total;number not in brackets refers to IPFs only).EPC countries are grouped together at the bottom of the chart to facilitate a comparison between Europe and major world players like China and USA.The figure

138、 on the right shows the trend in IPF for top applicant countries.4503001500200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022 DE DK US CN JP GB NL FR NO ES KR Others EPC10 0008 0006 0004 0002 0000 IPF Not IPF(1 210)835(813)778(930)596(9 193)400(1 097)358(467)344(369

139、)314(381)282(317)265(305)238(1 548)178(1 155)832(4 481)3 557Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|18OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|18Box 4:International patenting co-operation in of

140、fshore wind energyThe chord diagram in this box shows international collaboration of applicant countries with at least 5 shared patent families.The analysis of international collaboration is based on the location of the applicants.It shows that there is considerable involvement of the Member States

141、of the European Patent Organisation27 in cross-country developments and subsequent patent applications.Most prominently,this applies to France,the Kingdom of the Netherlands,Germany,Denmark and Spain.We can also observe relevant collaborations between:Canada with the United States of America,China w

142、ith Denmark,the Kingdom of the Netherlands with the United States of America,and Canada with France.France has the highest number of patent families with international co-operation.The United States of America has the most diverse co-operation picture,pairing with 24 countries on a total of 81 paten

143、t families.Germany cooperates with 15 countries on a total of 79 patent families.Co-operation with China is marked by co-applicant filings with mainly Denmark,Hong Kong(SAR),and Chinese Taipei.Overall,about 1.6%of all patent families show indicators of international co-operation between the patent a

144、pplicants,which is less than the 3%for the entire population of all patent families available in the PATSTAT database.Note that a substantial part of the international co-operation is due to subsidiaries of the same parent company,hence filing patent via local entities.28 For example:ABB Research CH

145、 and ABB(Asea Brown Boveri)SE,Siemens DE and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy DK,Envision Energy(DK)and Envision Energy(Jiangsu)Company CN.Examples of co-operation among entities without organisational ties are:Reinhold Cohn and Partners IL and University of Malta MT,NKT HV Cables SE and ABB Technolo

146、gy CH(with a later acquisition by NKT of ABB HV activities),Universidad Politecnica de Cataluna ES and University of Stuttgart Public-Law Institution DE,LM Wind Power DK and Blade Dynamics GB,RWE Renewables DE and Stiesdal Offshore Technologies DK,and Frontica Engineering NO with MH Wirth DE.27 Memb

147、er States of the European Patent Organisation:epo.org/about-us/foundation/member-states.html.28 Pasimeni,F.,Fiorini,A.,and Georgakaki,A.(2019).Assessing private R&D spending in Europe for climate change mitigation technologies via patent data.World Patent Information,59,101927.https:/doi.org/10.1016

148、/j.wpi.2019.101927International patenting co-operationFR 102NL 90others 76DE 68DK 68US 65ES 56CA 37VG 27CH 26SE 26GB 25CN 21NO 13TW 5Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|19OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT

149、 INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|193.1.3 Top patent officesThe first reason for patent applicants to file a patent at a certain patent office is to obtain the right to prevent competitors from selling or using a technology that encompasses the invention.However,very often an applicant will first file a priori

150、ty filing which is an easy and sometimes an economical filing strategy to buy time to decide whether more patents need to be filed in other patent jurisdictions.The figures below represent those countries where the invention originates as well as where the inventions can obtain protection and what p

151、atent offices will have to do the work of searches and possibly examining and granting the patents.We can view this as a proxy for the patent office“workload”.WO and EP are special cases because a patent filing at the EPO and WIPO can provide protection in multiple countries.We can observe that the

152、top 10 countries cover 75%of all patent filings.Looking at this ranking,one should also keep in mind that once an EPO patent becomes granted,it can come into force in EPO Member States without this being reflected in this ranking.The fact that EPO Members States Denmark,Spain and Germany are in this

153、 list is a clear indication that European innovation happens in those countries.United States of America and China take the absolute lead in the number of filings,accounting for nearly 25%of all patent filings.Figure 3.1.3a:Top 10 patent offices,IPF(2002-2022)Patent office ranking based on number of

154、 distinct patents filed retrieved by the queries for offshore wind energy(QA to QL)between 2002 and 2022.Figure 3.1.3b:Patent offices of first filing(IPF)Timeline representing the changing shares of countries where applicants file the earliest filing of a simple patent family,considering the queries

155、 for offshore wind energy(QA to QL)1WOEPUSCNDKKRESCADEAUOthers EP US DE CN GB WO DK JP NO KR Others100%90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%2005200820112014201720203 4123 0112 5101 8678907297086975965883 83311611293421119254826215613595306661381932383016151452504115111228152610406432463120212120617639832237

156、432223017311373Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|20OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|20We can observe major changes in the way applicants file their first patents.China,nearly abse

157、nt until 2008,has subsequently received increasingly more first filings every year.For filings in 2020,CN together with EP,US,NO and GB represent 50%of all first filings(though NO and DK are nearly on par with GB and US).The fact that EP obtains a successively increasing share of the applications ca

158、n be attributed to some of the top European applicants who systematically file their first applications at the EPO.These are:Siemens DE,DK,Alstom Renewable Technologies FR,ES,GE Renewable Energies ES,NL,Nexans FR,Orsted Wind Power DK,Vestas DK,Philips Electronics NL and others.3.1.4 Top applicantsTh

159、e Danish firm Vestas stands out as the main player in the realm of offshore wind energy technologies,showing remarkable activity.Its patent portfolio consists of IPFs,reflecting its global reach and influence.Very few of its patents(17 out of 326)are not international.It is important to highlight th

160、is distinction between IPF and non-IPF,especially when we consider the list of top 10 patent applicants.Here,we find Chinese and Korean companies that primarily direct their inventive efforts toward their respective domestic markets.This strategic approach is reflected in their patent portfolios,whi

161、ch mostly fall outside the category of IPFs.Instead,European companies are the most active actors in terms of net number of IPFs.As previously mentioned,Vestas DK is the leading player when the focus is on IPFs alone:in the period from 2002 to 2022,Vestas DK developed 309 distinct IPFs included in o

162、ne or more concept groupings(meaning in one of the 12 concepts from QA to QL).Interestingly,78%of those IPFs were filed in the period from 2013 to 2022,while only 69 IPFs were developed in the initial period from 2002 to 2012.The German company Siemens is the second leading patenting entity in offsh

163、ore wind,with 206 IPFs in the period 2002-2022.However,the patenting activity of Siemens DE is concentrated almost entirely within the 10 years from 2008 to 2017(87%of the total IPFs were filed in that period).The third leading patenting company is Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy DK,established in 2

164、016 after the merger of the wind business area of Siemens and the wind company Gamesa.This explains the low patenting activity for Siemens in the later period,as its own wind business moved to the newly established company.Figure 3.1.4a also shows that the American company General Electric is also a

165、ctive in offshore wind energy technologies,followed by Japans Mitsubishi Heavy Industry.All the other companies listed in Figure 3.1.4a have 54 or less IPFs,well below the total number of IPFs of the leading companies.Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Concl

166、usion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|21OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|21Figure 3.1.4a:Top patent applicants(2002-2022)All patent familiesVestas DKTianjin University CNSamsung Heavy Industries KRSiemens DEPowerchina Huadong Engineering Corporation CNHuaneng Clean

167、 Energy Research Institute CNSiemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S DKDalian University of Technology CNMitsubishi Heavy Industries JPGE(General Electric Company)US050100150200250300350 IPFs Not IPFsIPF onlyVestas DKSiemens DESiemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S DKGE(General Electric Company)USMitsubish

168、i Heavy Industries JPHitachi JPNexans FRRWE Renewables GmbH DEMHI Vestas Offshore Wind DKInnogy SE DE050100150200250300350 2002-2007 2008-2012 2013-2017 2018-2022Top 10 patent assignees based on the total number of patent families(top chart)and IPFs only(bottom chart)in offshore wind energy(QA to QL

169、)between 2002 and 2022.3096420681019719124137172792811320119711624114Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|22OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|22As illustrated in Figure 3.1.4b,the dev

170、elopment of IPFs over time shows a great contribution from companies rather than from other sectors(namely universities,governmental non-profit organisations or individual inventors).In the period from 2002 to 2022,IPFs developed by companies account for 64%of the total,with a strong increase betwee

171、n 2017 and 2021 from 209 to almost 366.Interestingly,patent publication originating from individuals peaked in 2011 with 269 international patents.After that,a significant decline is observed.This is also reflected in the maturity analysis that shows a decrease in the number of applicants,while the

172、number of patents filed still increases.Among the IP5 members(chart at right in Figure 3.1.4b),EPC countries show the largest contribution of companies in developing IPFs related to offshore wind energy technologies,as they account for 69%of the total IPFs.Individual inventors in the USA have the la

173、rgest share among the major players with 43%of IPFs(partly because inventors are registered as applicants when the patent is filed),while China is the country where universities develop a large share of IPFs,with 18%of the total.Figure 3.1.4b:Trend(left)and share among major world players(right)of p

174、atent applicant sectors based on the total number of IPFs in offshore wind energy(QA to QL)between 2002 and 2022.Trend in IPF by applicant sector360270180900200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022 Company Gov Non-profit Individual UniversityIPF by applica

175、nt sector and country(2002-2022)100%90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%EPCUSCNJPKRTable of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion=2018)and their patent filings in the respective technological conceptsA growing challenge in offshore wind are the rising production cos

176、ts for floating offshore wind turbines,insights into how harsh ocean environments around wind farms affect lifespan and maintenance costs,and elevated concern about securing the power grid.Therefore,the need for better exploitation through economies of scale is indispensable for the cost-efficient p

177、roduction of offshore wind energy.While it can be said that several established international companies such as Philips Electronics,Siemens Wind Power(and Siemens Gamesa),Maersk Supply Service and GE Renovables Espaa are not exactly newcomers as companies as such,they are nevertheless newcomers with

178、in the respective technological areas.Philips Electronics,the largest newcomer in“Corrosion protection”,has 13 patent families(148 applications-large patent families),covering technologies such as:cathodic protection and electrical anti-biofouling methods to prevent corrosion.Table of contents|Execu

179、tive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|24OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|24Large patent families are a clear signal of willingness to protect the inventions in many countries.Philips filings in“Floating”sho

180、w a similar pattern,with 11 families and 96 patents mainly in the field of UV-C light-based anti-fouling applications.We can also observe the entry of Maersk Supply Service and Deme Offshore Holding,active in the field of marine engineering with specific expertise in operating vessels and for offsho

181、re installations.Itrec,the main newcomer for“Foundation”,provides highly specialised engineering services.Its patents cover technology for pile driving,holding and lifting during offshore installation.Top 6 new applicants per conceptPatent familiesQA:FoundationItrec NLChina Three Gorges Corporation

182、CNSiemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S DKHuaneng Clean Energy Research Institute CNHuaneng Offshore Wind Power Sci.&Tech.Res.CNTokyo Electric Power Services Company JPQB:FloatingPhilips Electronics NLChina Three Gorges Corporation CNSiemens Zoome Mean Renew.Energy Corp.DELone Gull Holdings USMaersk S

183、upply Service DKDCNS Energies FRQD:Energy storageRWE Renewables GmbH DEVattenfall SEAdvanced Innergy Ltd GBAdvanced Insulation GBLone Gull Holdings USGE Renovables Espaa Sl ESQF:Corrosion protectionPhilips Electronics NLOrsted Wind Power DKAdvanced Innergy Ltd GBAdvanced Insulation GBSiemens Wind Po

184、wer DKThree Gorges New Energy Yangjiang Power Gen.CNQH:TowerGE Renovables Espaa Sl ESMaersk Supply Service DKAnker Werk I Port Mukran GmbH DEDeme Offshore Holding BESiemens Wind Power DKTokyo Electric Power Services Company JP0123456789101112131415Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2

185、.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|25OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|25Note:Graphs in this box show patent applicants not active(no patent filed)before 2018 specific for those concepts.3.1.5 Maturity mapThe technology maturity map2

186、9 of IPFs shown in Figure 3.1.5 uses the number of published patent families(vertical axis),the number of patent applicants(horizontal axis)and the number of granted patents(size of bubbles)to illustrate the overall patent evolution in offshore wind energy technologies.The maturity map clearly shows

187、 four main phases of this development categorised as follows:i)Inception phase(2002-2007),ii)Growth phase(2008-2012),iii)Consolidation phase(2013-2017),and iv)Re-growth phase(2018-2022)29 Suzuki,Shin-Ichiro(2011)Introduction to Patent Map Analysis.https:/www.jpo.go.jp/e/news/kokusai/developing/train

188、ing/textbook/document/index/Introduction_to_Patent_Map_Analysis2011.pdfThe inception phase considers the initial years(2002-2007)analysed in this report30,and shows a limited number of granted patents and few distinct applicants active in this area.The growth phase(2008-2012)shows a rapid increase i

189、n all the three dimensions of the maturity map:IPFs,applicants and granted patents.Interestingly,the consolidation phase(2013-2017)starts with a significant decrease in the number of applicants,and a decrease in IPFs follows with a certain time delay.Likewise interestingly,the consolidation of appli

190、cants did not have a significant impact on the grant rate when comparing e.g.the numbers for 2011 and 2015.This may be an indication that the quality of the inventions was maintained.The time from 2018 to 2022 saw an average renewed growth in terms of IPFs and applicants,while less for granted paten

191、ts.However,the grant rate in this period may still improve since the percentage of pending procedures is 30 Please note that the inception of offshore wind technology may have occurred already prior to 2002.Nevertheless,data for the analysis of this report are extracted considering 2002 to be the in

192、itial year.Newcomers across conceptsPatent familiesGE Renovables Espaa SL ESLone Gull Holdings USOrsted Wind Power DKPhilips Electronics NLRWE Renewables GmbH DESiemens Wind Power DKChina Three Gorges Corporation CNMaersk Supply Service DKItrec NLVattenfall SESiemens Zoome Mean Ren.En.Corp.DEAdvance

193、d Insulation GBAdvanced Innergy Ltd GBSiemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S DKMarine Power Systems GB05101520253035 QA:fixed foundations QB:floating foundations QC:mechanical power transmission QD:energy storage QE:hybrid system QF:corrosion protection QG:monitoring waves QH:tower QI:blades,rotors QJ:

194、grid QK:transportation,installation,erection QL:submarine cables conductorsTable of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|26OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|26still high,and more patents can e

195、xpect to be granted in the coming years.In 2022,the number of applicants is only about 30%of the top values in 2012,which is mainly due to the shift away from individual inventors.Very often other indicators such as co-application and reciprocal citations are indicators for the consolidation phase.B

196、y analysing the data in depth,we see for example co-applications involving LM Wind Power and Blade Dynamics31.We can also see strong reciprocal citation figures,and we now know that both companies were acquired by GE.A similar process took place by NKT Cables acquisition of the ABB high-voltage cabl

197、es business.3231 Espacenet link32 Espacenet link.Figure 3.1.5:Maturity map of offshore wind energy technologies patent applications between 2002 and 2022.NB:The maturity map combines the number of IPFs(vertical axis),the number of patent applicants(horizontal axis)and the number of granted patents(s

198、ize of bubbles).Number of patent families400350300250200150100500100200300400500600700Number of applicants i)Inception(2002-2007)ii)Growth(2008-2012)iii)Consolidation(2013-2017)iv)Re-growth(2018-2022)200320042005200620072002200920102011201220082014201520162017201320192020202120222018Table of content

199、s|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion 1)Number of forward citations based on the country of the applicant.The colour indicates citation intensity.Earliest publication years(family)Applicant country2002-20072008-20122013-20172018-2022Grand TotalCNKRDEJPDKUSGBFRNLNO25

200、02505002505007501K 1.25K1.5K2505007501K 1.25K1.5K 1.75K2K1K2K3K4KPatent familiesForward citations:1 2 3 4 5-10 11-50 50Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|28OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPOR

201、Tepo.org|28Figure 3.1.6b:Applicant country cited/citing overview Top applicant countries whose patents have been forward cited.It includes also domestic-only filings that also seem to have a significant impact.6 250 US DE DK KR JP CN GB FR ES NL NO CH SE IT Others6 0005 7505 5005 2505 0004 7504 5004

202、 2504 0003 7503 5003 2503 0002 7502 5002 2502 0001 7501 5001 2501 0007505002500USDEDKJPKRGBNLNOCNFRESCHBESECATable of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|29OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|2

203、9Table 3.1.6 lists the top 12 inventions in offshore wind energy technologies with the highest number of forward citations.It is not surprising that older inventions have higher numbers of forward citations,as time is an important factor in the citation process.For this reason,it is interesting to n

204、ote that the fourth most cited invention was published in 2018,and it concerns non-magnetic stainless-steel wire with an adherent corrosion resistant coating.Most of the citations for this application originate from applications filed by AT&T,but those citing patents are not specifically related to

205、electrical cables for wind energy.Table 3.1.6:Table listing 12 inventions with the most forward citations among those included in datasets generated for this report,using the 12 queries in offshore wind energy(QA to QL)and containing patent information between 2002 and 2022PatentTop inventions-forwa

206、rd citationsApplicantPub.yearCitationsEP1483502Offshore wind turbine Ocean Wind Energy Systems US2003269EP2271547Column-stabilized offshore platform with water-entrapment plates and asymmetric mooring system for support of offshore wind turbines Principle Power Inc US2009252EP1415379Coordinating ren

207、ewable power production with a standard power grid ABB AB SE2003193EP2812457Non-magnetic stainless steel wire as an armouring wire for power cables Bekaert BE2018168EP1996814High voltage direct current link transmission system for variable speed wind turbines Ingeteam ES2007160EP1359321Sensing of lo

208、ads on wind turbine blades GE(General Electric Company)US2003154EP1474579Wind turbine Mecal Applied Mechanics BV NL2002140EP1429025Up-wind type windmill and operating method therefor Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd JP2003133EP1507975Methods of handling wind turbine blades and mounting said blades on a wind

209、 turbine,system and gripping unit for handling a wind turbine blade Vestas Wind Sys AS DK2003129EP1623111Wind turbine blade with lift-regulating means LM Glasfiber AS DK2004125EP1460266Wind turbine with laser apparatus for measuring the wind velocity Mitsubishi Electric Corp JP2004122EP1548419Method

210、 and device for monitoring status of mechanical equipment and abnormality diagnosing deviceNSK Ltd JP2004122Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|30OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|30

211、3.2 Technology concept groupingThis section provides a summary of the significant findings obtained from the patent analysis concerning the seven technology concept groupings associated with offshore wind energy technologies.These groupings include:1)Fixed and floating foundations,2)Towers,3)Mechani

212、cal power transmission,4)Blades and rotors,5)Hybrid systems,6)Energy storage,and 7)Grid,submarine cables and protecting them.A comprehensive country-level overview of international patent families(IPFs)developed within the period from 2002 to 2022 is presented in Figure 3.2.Among the seven concept g

213、roupings,EPC countries contribute to over 60%of the overall count of IPFs in five categories,except for Energy storage and Hybrid systems,where their combined share is 53%and 46%,respectively.The United States of America consistently maintains an average of 14%across all seven concept groupings,posi

214、tioning it as the second leading country in IPFs within each of the identified offshore wind technology domains.China,Japan and the Republic of Korea follow,with cross-concept grouping averages of 7%,6%and 3%,respectively,in terms of the total number of IPFs.Figure 3.2:Country patent share on offsho

215、re wind concept groupings,IPF(2002-2022)Share of international patents between 2002 and 2022 and in relation to the seven concept groupings identified.(NB:The country refers to the country of the patent applicants.The group EPC represents applicants from the 39 Member States of the European Patent O

216、rganisation.34)34 Member states of the European Patent Organisation:epo.org/about-us/foundation/member-states.html.2 7487811 200266616719962Fixed and floating foundations Towers Mechanical power transmission Blades and rotors Hybrid systems:solar and ocean energy Energy storage Grid,submarine cables

217、 and protecting them EPC US CN JP KR Others60%11%8%9%4%8%68%12%6%6%3%5%63%14%7%7%2%7%74%11%5%7%1%3%46%16%11%5%6%17%53%18%8%7%4%11%67%13%8%4%3%4%Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|31OFFSHORE WIND EN

218、ERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|313.2.1 Fixed and floating foundations (QA&QB)Observations Floating foundations can be a game changer for the offshore wind market,bringing the turbines to deeper waters with abundant wind potential.Driven by its potential in deeper waters,patents filed for floating

219、 foundations have grown almost tenfold since 2002 and represent 80%of the foundation patents in 2022.Fixed foundations are still an established technology and play a role in the deployment of offshore wind technology.As a result,the number of filed patents shows a moderate increase in the past years

220、 50%increase for the period 2018-2022.Gravity and monopile solutions account for 90%of patents filed for fixed foundations.The choice of a floating or fixed foundation depends mainly on the combination of technical and site conditions,and operational factors.European countries such as the Germany,Ne

221、therlands,and Denmark lead in fixed foundation tech patents,while the USA dominates in floating technologies.In offshore wind systems,the foundation is a critical component that falls under two categories:fixed35 and floating36.At present,fixed foundations are commonly used but have limitations and

222、can only function in shallow water37.However,floating foundations can be used in water depths exceeding 60 meters and are gaining popularity.They allow for the opening of new markets in regions with deep water where fixed foundations become expensive and can provide additional benefits,such as havin

223、g a lower impact on the seabed.The successful operation of first commercial projects has led to a gradual increase in the number of global floating offshore wind projects in recent years.The cumulative global capacity for floating wind is expected to reach 0.285 GW in 2023 from 0.205 GW in 2022,(a 4

224、0%increase)38 and it is expected that the global pipeline of floating offshore wind projects will continue to grow in the coming years,with most of them 35 This includes gravity-based foundations,monopile foundations,tripod foundations and jacket foundations36 Main structure types include spar buoy,

225、tension leg platform,semi-submersible platform,and barge.37 This includes gravity-based foundations,monopile foundations,tripod foundations and jacket foundations38 Source:Wood Mackenzie Offshore wind long-term outlook database located in Europe,USA,and South Korea39.As offshore wind energy technolo

226、gy advances,there is an increasing need to accommodate larger turbines for higher efficiency for which the choice of foundation will be highly crucial.The choice of a floating foundation depends mainly on the combination of technical factors,site conditions,and operational factors.Looking at the pat

227、ent data between 2002 and 2022,the trend of IPFs in both foundation and floating technologies shows an initial increase until the period of 2011-2013,followed by a subsequent decline.However,another surge in the total count of IPFs in both categories started around 2017,showing a near-constant trend

228、 of growth since then.On annual average,78%of IPFs are dedicated to the development of floating solutions,while the remaining 22%are directed towards fixed foundation inventions.This shows the higher focus on advancing floating technologies,as these can be considered crucial to the advancement of of

229、fshore wind energy.Leading the effort(in terms of patent fillings)in foundation technologies are European countries,as indicated in the chart at left in Figure 3.2.1b.Specifically,Germany takes the lead with 152 IPFs,followed by the Netherlands with 77 IPFs,and Denmark with 75 IPFs.In contrast,the U

230、nited States,in fourth place in foundation patenting,emerges in the 2002-2022 period as first in IPF counts in offshore wind floating solutions with 308 IPFs(chart at right in Figure 3.2.1b).Germany and Denmark follow as the second and third contributors,while Japan takes fourth place,with a total o

231、f 244 IPFs.Examining the top patenting countries in Figure 3.2.1b,an intriguing trend emerges:across foundation solutions,an average of almost 90%of IPFs concern gravity or monopile foundations.However,within the area of floating solutions and on average across the leading patenting countries,only 9

232、%of IPFs are directed towards floating stabilisation.In the foundation category,the leading five companies are all from Europe.Germany takes the lead with Siemens DE,Innogy Se DE,and RWE Renewables GmbH DE,followed by the Danish Vestas and the Dutch company Itrec.Specifically within the monopile fou

233、ndation area,Innogy Se DE and Rwe Renewables GmbH DE are the leaders with 18 IPFs each.In the gravity foundation category,Siemens DE is first with 14 IPFs,followed by Vestas DK with 10 IPFs.39 Source:https:/ Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFS

234、HORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|32OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|32Leading companies on floating technologies are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries JP,Vestas DK,Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S DK,and Hitachi JP.Mitsubishi Heavy Industries JP and Hitachi JP have directe

235、d 67%and 63%of their respective IPFs to floating solutions during the period spanning from 2013 to 2017,showing substantial attention to floating technology during those years.Conversely,Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S DK has its inventive focus on floating solutions,with 94%of its IPFs to this

236、category developed in more recent years from 2018 to 2022.Box 6:AquacultureBecause of the reduction in the number of fish available for commercial fishing,offshore aquaculture allows for greater economies of scales.Whereas aquaculture is traditionally conducted near shore,it is increasingly being mo

237、ved farther offshore.Because aquaculture is moving increasingly farther from the shoreline,the installations require on-site power and communication means to control and monitor the plant.Power is also needed for the fish feeders,waste disposal,sensors,cameras and aeration to maintain the optimum di

238、ssolved oxygen concentration in the water.Concepts that integrate the development of offshore foundations and artificial islands aim to exploit the synergies of having power and anchoring available.Floating structures that are tethered to the seafloor as well as fixed foundations can be directly int

239、egrated into the aquaculture system.This leads to increasing a projects profitability through sector coupling while supporting food security.The line chart shows the evolution of patents being filed that combine offshore wind turbines(or energy)with aquaculture.The black line represents the cumulati

240、ve evolution which shows a sharp increase.The table in this box shows the top applicants.The majority are Chinese universities and research institutes.This is also confirmed by the fact that all current projects are proof of concepts,not at industrial scale by any standards.4040 Yu(2021)“China plans

241、 world first floating fish and wind farm linkup”Online at:https:/ familiesUniv Dalian tech26Univ Shanghai jiaotong20East China sea fisheries res inst cafs16Jiangsu Daoda wind power equipment tech co Ltd16Powerchina Huadong engineering corp Ltd16Univ Zhejiang10Ming yang smart energy group co Ltd9Univ

242、 Jiangsu science&tech8Univ Tianjin6Graduate school Shenzhen Tsinghua univ5Ocean univ China5Univ Shanghai ocean5CGN power co Ltd4Enertec AG4Guangzhou inst energy conversion cas4Source:ESPACENET using Q0 and IPC,CPC=“A01K61”/LOWTable of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results

243、|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|33OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|33Figure 3.2.1.Fixed and floating foundationsQADENLDKUSESCNGBNOFRBE080160240320 QA1 QA2 QA3Figure 3.2.1b:Top patenting countries(2002-2022)QBUSDEDKJPCNNONLGBFRES080160240320 QB1 QBLFig

244、ure 3.2.1c:Top applicants(2002-2022)QA010 20 30 40 50 60 70 80Siemens DEInnogy SE DERWE Renewables GmbH DEVestas DKItrec NLChina Three Gorges Corporation CNGeosea BEGE(General Electric Company)USOrsted Wind Power DKDeme Offshore BE QA1 QA2 QA3QB010 20 30 40 50 60 70 80Mitsubishi Heavy Industries JPV

245、estas DKSiemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S DKHitachi JPSiemens DERWE Renewables GmbH DEMHI Vestas Offshore Wind DKGE(General Electric Company)USItrec NLDeme Offshore BE 2002-2007 2008-2012 2013-2017 2018-2022Figure 3.2.1a:Trend of IPF22515075020022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015

246、2016201720182019202020212022 QA1 QA2 QA3 QB1 QBL QA1:fixed suction caisson QA2:fixed gravity QA3:fixed monopile QB1:floating stabilisation QBL:floating other82363216151819981254343534312320191810167813695222279277229232196150143132122105299171211257122217Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introdu

247、ction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|34OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|34Box 7:Transportation,installation and erection(QK)There are several challenges associated with the transportation,installation and erection of offshore w

248、ind turbines.Key challenges include logistics,transportation and harsh weather conditions.Port structures have to be adapted,specialised and often tailor-made service vessels need to be built and crews need to be trained and acquainted with offshore environmental conditions and dangers.Transporting

249、and installing 100-metre-long(or longer)wind turbine blades on towers measuring over 150 metres high has become routine using specialised vessels.Looking back in the past,major scaling-up activity took place between 2000 and 2011.This was mainly due to the UKs first seabed leasing rounds which motiv

250、ated several turbine manufacturers to enter the market for dedicated offshore wind turbines.The Kyoto Protocol entered into force in 2005,and in 2008 the European Parliament adopted the 2020 targets.With this newfound visibility,turbine manufacturers announced larger turbine platforms and,throughout

251、 the industry,production facilities were put in place for a new generation of blades,towers,nacelles,substations,and the foundations needed to support them.Offshore projects became more complex,and this equally spurred ongoing activity for more efficient offshore installation to drive down costs.The

252、 renewed spurring of patent filings starting in 2017 is probably due to governments implementing a zero-subsidy offshore wind policy,leading to new innovative solutions to streamline the value chain.The graph below shows the patent trends applicable to the vessels,installation cranes and lifting dev

253、ices,etc.,needed to install or move offshore wind turbines.The graph illustrates the number of yearly patent filings,with the green bars representing the patents that have been granted.The grey trend line shows the grant rate percentage,which decreases in more recent years because most of those pate

254、nts are still in the examination and granting process.Granted patent applications(2002-2022)Granted patent applications44080%33060%22040%11020%00200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022Earliest publication year Granted Not granted%grantedTable of contents|

255、Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|35OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|353.2.2 Towers(QH)ObservationsModular tower design concepts are crucial for enhancing wind turbine performance,reducing the use

256、of energy intensive raw materials,easing transportation and maintaining economics,especially with the increasing size of modern wind turbines.After a 40%-growing rate decade since 2010,the average number of IPF filings has remained relatively steady at around 50 per year.However,when considering non

257、-IPFs,concrete towers filed in China instigate an upgoing trend due solely to a massive quantity of 754 domestic filings.Regarding designs and materials,tubular steel remains the preferred option due to the optimum balance between cost of energy and materials with potentially higher capacity factors

258、 achieved at higher heights.Both concrete due to lower costs and lattice tower designs due to taller hub heights and steel saving potentials have been gaining attention over the past decade.USA shows the largest share of IPF in welded or tubular steel(29%of total IPF),followed by Germany(10%)and Den

259、mark(10%)which,in turn,are the two leading countries for lattice and concrete towers.Meanwhile China,though active in terms of IPFs,appears to be focusing its efforts on the internal market.Tower structures are essential in the development of offshore wind energy technology,as they contribute to cos

260、t-effectiveness,durability,weight optimisation,robustness,and streamlined installation.To achieve these goals,various tower design concepts have been explored.The three main designs are welded or tubular steel towers(QH1),lattice towers(QH2),and concrete towers(QH3).While all three designs have thei

261、r advantages and disadvantages,the tubular steel design has become the industry standard.However,the extensive use of energy-intensive steel in this design is a major drawback.In contrast,concrete and lattice towers use less steel,but their higher number of components result in higher labour costs41

262、.By adopting recycling practices,such as increased use of scrap 41 Lantz,Eric,Owen Roberts,Jake Nunemaker,Edgar DeMeo,Katherine Dykes,and George Scott(2019).Increasing Wind Turbine Tower Heights:Opportunities and Challenges.National Renewable Energy Laboratory;Golden,Colorado.metal42,and incorporati

263、ng modularity with alternative tower types like concrete and lattice,the wind industry has the potential to reduce the intensity of raw material utilisation and associated emissions during tower construction.These aspects should set the innovation agenda for this specific domain.Between 2002 and 202

264、2,lattice towers took the lead in terms of IPFs,accounting for approximately 55%of the total inventions within this specific technological sub-concept.Inventions concerning concrete towers contributed to 37%of the overall IPFs.While welded or tubular steel towers held a modest share at about 8%,it i

265、s important to note that this sector has been experiencing reinvigorated attention marked by a discrete number of IPFs developed in the years 2021 and 2022.This interest in welded or tubular steel towers may potentially give early forecasting of upcoming innovations and advancements in this domain.I

266、n terms of top applicant countries related to the three tower sub-concepts(Figure 3.2.2b),USA shows the largest share of IPFs in welded or tubular steel(29%of total IPFs),followed by Germany and Denmark which,in turn,are the two leading countries for lattice and concrete towers.In all three sub-conc

267、epts,Germany and Denmark together account for more than 30%of the share of IPFs.While Japan and China appear among the top countries in both welded or tubular steel and concrete(in total about 20%of IPFs in both sub-concepts),they are not present in the top list for lattice towers a sub-concept in w

268、hich European countries takes the largest share of IPFs(Great Britain,Spain and The Netherlands have 28%of IPFs).In the years from 2002 to 2022 and summing up all IPFs addressing welded or tubular steel towers(QH1),lattice towers(QH2)and concrete towers(QH3),the Danish company Vestas was the biggest

269、 inventor with a total of 59 inventions.Vestas DK significantly outpaced the second-ranking patent applicant,American GE(General Electric Company)US,which had 29 IPFs in total.However,an interesting distinction should be made concerning the focus of inventive efforts between these two entities:Vesta

270、s DK directed 77%of its IPFs to lattice towers,peaking at 17 IPFs in 2017.In contrast,GE(General Electric Company)US developed 66%of its IPFs related to welded or tubular steel towers,with a peak of 8 IPFs in 2011.42 IRENA(2023),Towards a circular steel industry,International Renewable Energy Agency

271、,Abu Dhabi.https:/www.irena.org/Publications/2023/Jul/Towards-a-Circular-Steel-Industry Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|36OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|36Box 8:Corrosion prot

272、ectionCorrosion is a critical aspect for offshore wind foundations since it may negatively impact the viability and safety of these structures.Corrosion is mostly caused by the harsh marine environment,characterised by constant wave action and high exposure to saltwater and fluctuating temperatures.

273、Solutions for preventing corrosion and protecting offshore wind structures are needed to ensure the integrity of wind turbine foundations,thereby increasing lifespan and reducing maintenance costs and potential environmental hazards.As installations of new offshore wind farms grow,organisations are

274、working hard to find new technical solutions for corrosion protection(i.e.innovations in coatings,materials and cathodic protection).In terms of total number of IPFs,in the period 2002-2022,EPC countries showed an elevated level of activities in the field of corrosion protection:328 IPCs were develo

275、ped in EPC countries,accounting for 69%of the total IPFs.China and USA followed with 53 and 46 IPFs,respectively.Among the EPC countries,Denmark and Germany together accounted for about half of the total IPFs.IPF(2002-2022)US 53/11%CN 46/10%JP 23/5%KR 7/1%Others 21/4%DE 82/17%DK 85/18%GB 49/10%NL 28

276、/6%EPC_others 84/18%EPC328 69%Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|37OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|37Figure 3.2.2.Towers(QH)QH1Figure 3.2.2b:Top patenting countries(2002-2022)Figu

277、re 3.2.2c:Top applicants200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022Vestas DKQH1QH2QH3GE(General Electric Company)USQH1QH2QH3Deme Offshore BEQH1QH2QH3Siemens DEQH1QH2QH3Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S DKQH1QH2QH3Geosea BEQH1QH2QH3Mitsubishi Heavy Industrie

278、s JPQH1QH2QH3Esteyco ESQH1QH2QH3Enercon(Aloys Wobben)DEQH1QH2QH3GE Renovables Espaa SL ESQH1QH2QH3Figure 3.2.2a:Trend of IPF706050403020100200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022 QH1 QH2 QH3 QH1:tower welded or tubular steel QH2:tower lattice QH3:tower co

279、ncreteQH2QH3US 29%DE 18%DK 14%JP 11%CN 9%NL 7%Others 12%DK 16%DE 15%US 12%GB 10%ES 8%NL 8%Others 31%DE 19%DK 13%CN 11%ES 9%JP 8%US 8%Others 32%471326212514151016171317133 5 5 1 5 7 1 15 3 12 6 2 9 4 3 3 2 2 32 3 6 4583 3112 319 28 15 28 30 19 22 32 26 25 1822 26 Table of contents|Executive summary|1

280、.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|38OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|383.2.3 Mechanical power transmission(QC)ObservationsWind turbine drivetrain systems are dominated by two types:gearbox and direct-drive systems.Co

281、st,power density,size,weight and especially for offshore wind applications reliability seem to be the most important factors in choosing one of these two types.The need for rare earth materials for permanent magnet generators could also determine future market trends,even though they are growing at

282、a fast pace in the market for replacing rotor windings.Over the period from 2002 to 2022,two out of every three IPFs have been directed toward direct-drive systems,although this proportion has changed over time.In more recent years,from 2018 to 2022,this share has increased up to 80%.Permanent magne

283、t synchronous generators(PMSG)have become the preferred generator technology for offshore applications and are found in over three-fourths of all offshore wind turbines worldwide.Overall,three major phases are observed:a first growing phase up to 2013(+22%average YoY),a declining phase between 2013

284、and 2018(-20%average YoY),and a new growing phase up to 2021(+42%average YoY).The top 3 applicant countries for patents related to mechanical power transmission are Denmark,USA and Germany,each having 15%.The top applicants are Vestas DK,Siemens DE and GE US.Innovation developments in offshore wind

285、energy technology involve two major mechanical power transmission systems:the gearbox,which includes doubly fed induction generators(DFIG),and direct-drive systems,which include permanent magnet synchronous generators(PMSG)and electrically excited synchronous generators(EESG).The direct-drive system

286、s offer higher efficiencies,but entail larger and heavier generators for large capacities.Between the two direct-drive options,PMSGs allow higher power density and reduced size and weight.PMSGs have been dominating since the beginning of the offshore wind market.As of 2018,generators containing perm

287、anent magnets were used in nearly all offshore wind turbines in Europe and in approximately 76%of offshore wind turbines worldwide.43 43 Source:Alves Dias,P.,Bobba,S.,Carrara,S.and Plazzotta,B.,The role of rare earth elements in wind energy and electric mobility,EUR 30488 EN,Publications Office of t

288、he European Union,Luxembourg,2020,ISBN 978-92-76-27016-4,doi:10.2760/303258,JRC122671 https:/publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC122671 However,the risks related to rare earth elements(neodymium and smaller quantities of dysprosium)for PM generators in wind turbines is a major concern

289、 for the industry due to increasing global demand44,despite prices falling to pre-2011 levels.While some alternatives to permanent magnet generators exist,they typically lack the efficiency and performance needed for offshore applications.As such,its crucial to expand innovation in this area and exp

290、lore global partnerships to diversify rare earth supply and meet rising demand in future.The development of IPFs in the period from 2002 to 2022(Figure 3.2.2a)shows the trajectories of these two technical options gearbox and direct-drive indicating the sectors efforts to optimise power transmission

291、in offshore wind systems.The trajectory of IPFs shows a consistent growth between 2004 and 2013,peaking at 113 filings in that year.Despite a subsequent downturn in the following years,IPFs within both gearbox and direct-drive transmission systems exhibited a resurgence from 2018 onwards.Over the en

292、tire span from 2002 to 2022,68%of IPFs have been directed toward direct-drive systems,although this proportion has changed over time.The period between 2002 and 2016 maintained an annual average share of 63%,whereas in the subsequent six years spanning 2017 to 2022 this figure increased to 75%.This

293、observed trend may potentially imply a shift reflecting changing technology priorities between gearbox and direct-drive systems in the context of offshore wind energy technology.In the years from 2002 to 2022,three are the top patenting countries in terms of IPFs related to mechanical power transmis

294、sion:Denmark leads with 214 IPFs,followed by the USA with 195 IPFs and Germany with 185.In these three countries,the focus seems to be on IPFs related to direct-drive systems,as these outweigh those related to gearbox technology,with shares ranging between 70%and 76%.In contrast,Japan the fourth-lar

295、gest country for total number of IPFs in mechanical power transmission shows nearly equal effort(in terms of the number of IPFs)in direct-drive and gearbox systems.This trend shows the Japanese pursuing balanced expertise across both technological sub-concepts,differently from other leading countrie

296、s with a clear dominant trend in one area only.44 IRENA(2023).Geopolitics of the Energy Transition:Critical Materials.International Renewable Energy Agency,Abu Dhabi https:/www.irena.org/Publications/2023/Jul/Geopolitics-of-the-Energy-Transition-Critical-Materials Table of contents|Executive summary

297、|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|39OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|39The presence of a Danish and a German company as the leading patent applicants of mechanical power transmission IPFs from 2002 to 2022 aligns w

298、ith previous insights.Vestas DK is first with 97 IPFs,closely followed by Siemens DE with 83 IPFs.The next three ranking companies,namely Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S DK,GE(General Electric Company)US,and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries JP,have an almost similar number of IPFs.The top four compan

299、ies display a tendency toward direct-drive systems,with 65%,88%,98%,and 85%of their respective IPFs directed towards this technology domain.However,the Japanese company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has only 54%of their IPFs concentrating on this specific technological sub-concept.Box 9:Generators:Per

300、manent magnet synchronous generators(PMSG)and doubly fed induction generators(DFIG)The selection of the generator technology that better suits modern wind turbine drivetrains depends on whether the generator is applied in onshore or offshore turbines.Currently,both PMSGs and DFIGs are used extensive

301、ly in the latter.When looking into patent data,one can see that there is an upgoing trend of patents being filed for both PMSG and DFIG technologies.However,it is worth noting that patent filings specifically classified as“offshore”are too few to conduct meaningful analysis,so we expanded the search

302、 to include all wind energy patents.Between 2002 and 2022,the number of patent filings covering these two technologies increased by a factor of fourteen.The driving force behind this trend is the need for a cost-effective option over the turbines total lifecycle.This is especially true for offshore

303、wind turbines,where the logistics for carrying out regular maintenance require more resources.Because PMSGs do not require gearbox technology,it has become the preferred generator technology for offshore wind turbine applications.Generator technology used in wind power(tot patent families)Source:ESP

304、ACENET.5004003002001000200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022 PMSG DFIG SCIGTable of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|40OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT RE

305、PORTepo.org|40PMSGs have been the dominant choice since the beginning of the offshore wind market.As of 2018,generators containing permanent magnets were used in nearly all offshore wind turbines in Europe and in three-quarters of offshore wind turbines worldwide.DFIGs are gaining popularity in wind

306、 farms due to their ability to control active and reactive power separately.The number of patents filed has increased sixfold since 2010.However,the risk of insufficient supply of rare earth elements(neodymium and smaller quantities of dysprosium)for permanent magnet generators in windturbines is a

307、major concern for the industry due to increasing global demand,despite prices falling to pre-2011 levels.45 From a geographical approach,it is important to observe that the upward trend is solely due to non-international patent applications filed at the CN patent office by Chinese applicants startin

308、g from 2007 onwards.This is also clearly observed when comparing the applicant rankings.CN applications serve to protect the domestic market and are seldom filed in other patent jurisdictions.Note:For this analysis,the scope of the data was not limited to international patent filings and includes al

309、l wind energy classified patents45 Source:Alves Dias,P.,Bobba,S.,Carrara,S.and Plazzotta,B.,(2020),The role of rare earth elements in wind energy and electric mobility,Luxembourg,doi:10.2760/303258 State grid corp ChinaSiemens GamesaGE-General ElectricChina electric power res instUniv North China el

310、ectric powerUniv SoutheastUniv ZhejiangUniv ChongqingMing Yang smart energy group co LtdQufu Normal UniversityGuodian united power tech coHitachi LtdUniv Sanghai JiaotongZhejiang windey co LtdUniv HohaiAlstom renewable technologiesHuaneng clean energy res instBeijing goldwind science&creation windpo

311、wer equipment co LtdUniv Shanghai electric powerUniv Huazhong science tech050100150200250300350400 PMSG DFIG SCIGTop applicants generator for wind energy(tot patent families)Source:ESPACENET.Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY

312、PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|41OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|41Figure 3.2.3.Mechanical power transmission(QC)Figure 3.2.3b:Top patenting countries(2002-2022)Figure 3.2.3c:Top applicants20022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220406080100

313、120Vestas DKQC1QC2Siemens DEQC1QC2Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S DKQC1QC2GE(General Electric Company)USQC1QC2Mitsubishi Heavy Industries JPQC1QC2Alstom Renewable Technologies FRQC1QC2GE Renovables Espaa SL ESQC1QC2Alstom Renovables Espaa SL ESQC1QC2GE Renewable Technologies Wind NLQC1QC2Alstom

314、Wind,S.L.U.ESQC1QC2 QC1 QC2Figure 3.2.2a:Trend of IPF120100806040200200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022 QC1 QC2 QC1:mechanical power transmission direct drive QC2:mechanical power transmission gearboxDK QC1 QC2USDEJPCNESGBNLFRNO02040608010012014016018

315、020022057 6 10 2 5 10 18 20 40 39 50 62 72 49 46 34 39 28 50 1855 35 46255814162525384129241615101319119763348373 10646316555 1065372833312302642724325241171525050544527153010201216414513148576849654228Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE W

316、IND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|42OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|423.2.4 Blades and rotors(QI)ObservationsThe development of blades and rotors is evolving into larger designs that increase the power capacity of wind turbines.Better aerodynamic profiles and materials,includ

317、ing recycling,and new logistic approaches are at the core of innovation activities in the wind market.IPF trends for blades and rotors followed the same pattern as those for mechanical power transmission up to 2016:a first growing phase until 2013 was followed by a phase of decline until 2016,which

318、suggests that they evolved under a certain coordination,as from a technological standpoint they are correlated.After 2016,blades and rotors recovered,reaching the peak patent filing by 2018,after which a declining trend has remained prevalent.The cumulative IPF count for blade technologies between 2

319、017 and 2022 stands at 122,surpassing the collective IPFs generated over the preceding 15-year span from 2002 to 2016.Denmark,Germany and USA are the leaders in blade technology development with these three countries jointly accounting for approximately 76%of the overall IPF count associated with mo

320、dular blades and rotors.In offshore wind energy technology,the development of blades and rotors is at a critical stage as a pivotal response to challenges like harsh operating conditions and the need for larger blades to capture more energy.With the increase in blade length,critical aspects such as

321、manufacturing under rigorous design standards and certifications46,easing transportation and logistics,incorporating circular economy practices that reduce usage of raw materials and recycle them at the end of turbine service life47 need to be paid special attention.46 M.Hagenbeek,S.J.van den Boom,N

322、.P.M.Werter,F.Talagani,M.van Roermund,B.H.Bulder,and H.J.van der Mijle Meijer(2022);The blade of the future:wind turbine blades in 2040;Delft 47 Mishnaevsky Jr.Leon(2022);Recycling of wind turbine blades:Recent developments;Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry;Vol 39;https:/doi.org/10.

323、1016/j.cogsc.2022.100746 As offshore wind farms expand further into deeper waters and more remote locations,the continuous refinement of blade and rotor designs becomes crucial.This need is further mirrored in the IPF trend shown in Figure 3.2.4a.As offshore wind energy technology moved toward matur

324、ation,there was a corresponding increase in the count of IPFs.The trajectory reveals an initial period of gradual innovation within this technological domain,succeeded by a swift surge.Notably,the cumulative IPF count between 2017 and 2022 stands at 122,surpassing the collective IPFs generated over

325、the preceding 15-year span from 2002 to 2016,which amounted to 105 IPFs.From 2002 to 2022,Denmark has taken the lead among countries in the developing rotor and blade inventions,with 108 IPFs,followed by Germany(45)and the USA(30).Remarkably,these three countries jointly contribute around 76%of the

326、overall IPF count associated with modular blades and rotors,in contrast to the 63%represented in the other category.In this second category,Denmark ranks first with 26 IPFs,a figure exceeding double the quantity of German IPFs,which stands at 12.Consistent with the earlier ranking,four Danish compan

327、ies are among the top patent applicants during the period from 2002 to 2022.Vestas DK leads with 52 IPFs followed by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S DK with 20.The top list also includes the Japanese Mitsubishi Heavy Industries JP in third place,followed by American GE(General Electric Company)U

328、S.Nevertheless,an important distinction emerges:Vestas DK and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S DK have primarily developed their inventions within the most recent six years,specifically between 2017 and 2022,accounting for 87%and 85%of their respective total IPFs.In contrast,Mitsubishi Heavy Indu

329、stries JP and GE(General Electric Company)US directed many of their inventive efforts in the initial phase spanning from 2002 to 2016,contributing 60%and 79%of their respective total IPFs during this period.This trend highlights the innovative dynamism exhibited by the Danish companies,supporting th

330、eir widely recognised status as key innovators in the offshore wind energy arena.Table of contents|Executive summary|1.Introduction|2.Methodology|3.Results|4.Conclusion OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|43OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PATENT INSIGHT REPORTepo.org|43Box 10:Recycling of rotor b

331、ladesWith the growth of wind energy being deployed to increase the share of emission-free,renewable and affordable clean energy(UN,SDG 7)48,the area swept by the rotor obtained through increased lengths of wind turbine blades has been and will continue to be one of the main keys to bringing down the

332、 per-kwh costs and increase efficiency.With a designed lifetime of 20-25 years,the question arises as to how to dismantle and recycle those rotor blades.After reaching end-of-life and in the context of circular economy,materials must be separated and recycled in new applications.Wind turbine blades

333、consist of further material such as balsa wood,foams,coatings and metal parts.As the blade industry is technologically advancing at quick pace,it is not expected that materials used for blades and resulting waste material recycling are going to become standardised nor homogeneous anytime soon.This makes it very hard to develop an efficient pre-processing and recycling industry.However,producers of