The CLEAN ENERGY PATENT GROWTH INDEX (CEPGI), published quarterly by the Cleantech Group at Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C, provides an indication of the trend of innovative activity in the Clean Energy sector. Results from the second quarter of 2008 reveal the CEPGI to have a value of 217 granted U.S. patents which is down three from the first quarter of 2008 and down from a value of 228 in the second quarter of 2007. (Click here for a downloadable version of this post.)
The components
breakdown of the CEPGI continue to show fuel cells dominating the other
components in absolute numbers, but a downward trend for fuel cell patents
begun in the fourth quarter of 2006 continued, falling by 10 relative to the
first quarter. Granted wind and solar
patents headed along opposite trajectories for the last two quarters with wind
ascending (48) and solar (21) descending.
Hybrid/electric vehicle patents (14) continued their downward
trend begun in early 2007. Tidal/wave energy granted patents continued an
upward trend since the third quarter of 2007 with 10, up 1 relative to the
first quarter.
GE overtook Honda
for the gold medal (in this Olympic month) in the patent chase for the most new
granted clean energy patents in the second quarter with 17 followed by Honda
with 13. GE’s patents (12 of 17) were
overwhelmingly wind power related while Honda’s (12 of 13) were predominantly
fuel cell related. General Motors
grabbed bronze with 11 on the strength of its fuel cell patents. Aloys Wobben, who is the head of Enercon
GmbH, a German wind turbine company, holds fourth place with 8.
Automotive companies continued their strong showing with Nissan (7) and
Toyota (6) in the fifth and sixth spots on the strength of their fuel cell
efforts. Samsung (5) placed 7th
while Toshiba (4) and Matsushita Electric (4) tied, all of which were related
to fuel cells. Individual inventor
Dennis Fernandez rounded out the top 10 with three fuel cell related
patents.
As depicted in the graphs below, Japan continued to lead the U.S. states and other countries that have historically contended for the geographical clean energy patent crown. As is evident from the graphs, Japan, New York and California had an increase in the number of clean energy patents relative to the first quarter. Germany held steady while Michigan, Connecticut, and Canada dropped.
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Trend lines by quarter through the second quarter of 2008 for the CEPGI and for each of the CEPGI components are depicted below:
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CEPGI yearly totals through 2007 are depicted below:
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© 2008 Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C.