Wind Energy - Cleantech Forecast

Wind energy can be characterized as a mature cleantech field. Even though the total number of patents in this sector pales in comparison to cleantech sectors such as hybrid-electric or fuel cells, wind technology has been in existence for several decades.

Despite being a mature technical field, the authors predict that patent filings in the wind energy sector will continue to grow at a steady rate over the next four years. The number of patents granted will more than double between 2009 and 2012, from 245 to close to 600. From 2005 though 2008, General Electric Co. and German entrepreneur Aloys Wobben—managing director of Enercon, Germany’s top wind-turbine supplier—built impressive patent portfolios. GE, for example, is the number two worldwide manufacturer (by megawatts supplied) of wind turbines, only surpassed by Denmark’s Vestas Wind Systems. And with wind products ranging from mechanical devices to advanced electronics, the authors predict that GE’s strong presence in this sector will continue for the foreseeable future.

Notably, however, several other companies are making strides. Starting in the 2005-2006 time frame, three other European companies, Germany’s Repower Systems AG, Denmark’s Nordex AG, and Spain’s Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica, significantly increased their wind energy patent filings in the United States. These three companies are leading European manufacturers of wind turbines and appear to be expanding their patent portfolios to position themselves as major global suppliers of wind energy products.

It has been predicted that of all the cleantech sectors, the wind sector will be one of the hardest hit by the current global recession. See “Ill Winds: HSBC Expects Wind Power Market to Decline in 2009,” The Wall Street Journal, March 9, 2009, available here). Though it might be inferred that this negative outlook will result in a reduction of patent filings for this sector in the coming years, it is also axiomatic that when competition intensifies, so does innovation. Based on patent data available to date, the steady rate of growth in the patent portfolios of wind energy companies that the authors predict is likely sustainable despite the current economic conditions.