Energy patents by technology in the world, 2000-2023

Sources

IEA analysis based on European Patent Office PATSTAT patents database (Spring 2025 edition accessed through the OECD Micro-data Lab: Intellectual Property Database).

Notes

“Other low-emissions” includes aviation, rail, marine, bioenergy, carbon capture and storage, electricity grids, nuclear and renewables (including those integrated into buildings). “Other energy efficiency” includes agriculture, buildings, road transport. Based on international patent families (IPFs), each of which represents a unique invention and includes patent applications filed in at least two countries. 2024e: estimated. It is very preliminary and only includes low share of IPFs that will eventually enter the dataset for that year. Technology categories follow Y02-Y04S scheme for low-emissions technologies (i.e. energy storage includes Y02E 60/10-16 and Y02E 70/30) and IEA and EPO methodology for identifying fossil fuel technologies in patent data.