The number of renewable energy patents filed worldwide jumped 28% to 20,905 in 2018/19, up from 16,287 in 2017/18, according to law firm EMW.
EMW’s research analyses patents filed for solar, wind, biofuels, hydropower, geothermal and waste-generated energy.
The solar power sector was found to attract the most patent filings, accounting for 57% of the total ‘green’ energy patents in 2018/19.
Some 11,832 patents were filed in the solar sector, with waste energy second with 4564 and wind third with 3732.
EMW said increased concerns over climate change are accelerating this research and investment in renewable energy and driving the global growth in patent filing.
Companies in China filed 81% (16,992) of the renewable energy patents, the most of any country, while the US came in second, filing 8% (1,613) and the UK sixth (84).
Fuelled in part by generous government subsidies, China has been the largest investor in renewable energy over the last decade, having invested $758bn, over double the US’s $356bn, the law firm said.
EMW principal James Geary said: “As the global demand for renewable energy gathers pace, businesses are increasingly incentivised to invest in R&D.
“With incremental technological advances being made all the time, renewable energy is becoming more efficient and competitive when compared with fossil fuel alternatives.
“Technological innovation in the renewable energy sector has been boosted by the huge investment in R&D made by big oil and gas companies.
“Businesses are looking to steal a march on competitors by investing in and patenting products in what is an increasingly innovative renewables sector.”