Wind
Highlights:
- Patent filings in core innovations show a sustained plateau that may indicate that wind power technologies have matured, with most core innovations already being established, and key markets having reached saturation. The focus may now have shifted toward large-scale deployment, optimisation, and cost reduction, as well as innovation in adjacent fields such as storage and grid integration.
- With wind power capacity soaring globally, and with rapid expansion in China, India, and other emerging markets, it is expected that this massive deployment will only heighten the need for long-duration storage to manage intermittency and grid reliability.
- With the continued expansion of offshore wind and expected increases in the size of wind turbines, monopiles and their associated installation technologies are expected to continue to be an important area of innovation and patent filings.
- Manufacturing of turbines and related components remains a strong area for patent filings, whereas installation and grid integration technologies appear to be less fruitful. It is possible that as renewable infrastructure expands during the green energy transition, these other areas may receive more attention due to innovation pressures.
- It seems likely that a majority of innovation in this sector is likely to come from established players that are already operational within the sector.
Over the last 10 years, energy production from wind power sources has increased from 852 TWh to around 2511 terawatt-hour (TWh) - contributing to just over 25 percent of the 2024 total produced by all renewable sources.
Wind power, alongside other renewable sources such as solar and hydroelectric, is playing a crucial role in the green energy revolution by helping to shift power generation away from fossil fuels.
The development and expansion of wind power and its associated technologies could be critical to the objective of minimising global temperature increases. By scaling up the amount of power that is generated from renewable sources, emissions can be cut, ecosystems can be protected, and energy security can be improved.
Recent data shows that the adoption of wind power sources is on the rise.
Over the last 10 years, energy production from wind power sources has increased from 852 TWh to around 2511 terawatt-hour (TWh) , with the amount of electricity generated from wind power sources contributing to just over 25 percent of the 2024 total produced by all renewable sources (source).
Figure 1: global modern renewable electricity generation by Renewable Energy - Our World in Data1
2024 saw an additional 121 GW of new wind power capacity installed. Of this, China was responsible for the installation of 87 GW, making up approximately 72 percent of global installed capacity for 2024. The annual growth rate for new wind power installation fell from 13 percent to 11.5 percent, with an 18 percent reduction outside of China, suggesting a slowing in the installation of new wind power generation. These trends may be attributable, at least in part, to policy instability and the costs associated with research and development that has prompted some companies to reallocate resources. These changes are reflected in global patent filing data, as shown below.
Figure 2: global patent (priority) filings, 2001 - 2023 - wind turbines
Figure 1 shows that global priority filings for wind turbines and broadly related technologies rose sharply from 2001, reaching a peak in 2011. This surge likely reflects an intense phase of innovation and development in the sector. From 2012 onwards, however, filings declined and then levelled off, remaining relatively stable through to 2023. This sustained plateau may indicate that wind power technologies have matured, with most core innovations already being established, and key markets having reached saturation. The focus may now have shifted toward large-scale deployment, optimisation, and cost reduction, as well as innovation in adjacent fields such as storage and grid integration.
Even with the overall slowdown in priority filings, are there any technical areas within the industry that are defying this trend?
China is firmly establishing itself as the global clean energy provider. For example, in 2023, it added more solar capacity than the rest of the world combined, alongside major wind, hydro, and grid investments.
Long duration energy storage (LDES)
The reliable long-term storage of energy generated by renewable sources is a critical part of the transition to a fully renewable power grid, particularly for wind power. Wind power generation is inherently intermittent and variable, with energy generation being directly linked to weather conditions. Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES), also known as Long Term Energy Storage (LTES), addresses this challenge by storing surplus energy that is produced during peak periods of power generation, i.e., when it is windy, so that a steady power supply can be achieved during calmer conditions when turbine output is low.
By smoothing out fluctuations in supply, LDES enhances wind power’s reliability and stability, allowing it to operate as a dependable baseload source even during extended periods of low wind activity. This capability is particularly valuable for offshore wind farms, where wind conditions are generally more consistent than on land, enabling more efficient and predictable generation and thus, reliable charging of storage means during times of reduced power consumption.
LDES also improves the overall resilience of the power grid by reducing the risk of brownouts while lessening the reliance on fossil fuel-based backup power systems that may otherwise be used to compensate for intermittent reductions in power generation from renewable sources. As such, LDES has the potential to support faster and more cost-effective integration of renewable sources. LDES also has the potential to maximise the utilisation of wind power infrastructure by improving the cost-effectiveness of wind installations. Therefore, the development and adoption of LDES could further improve the competitiveness of renewable energy sources against fossil fuels, which is likely to be an important step in the process of decarbonising electrical grids. LDES is emerging as a cornerstone technology for achieving a renewable-centric power grid.
Figure 3: twenty-year trend - global patent (priority) filings - long duration/term energy storage for wind turbines
Patent filing data for LDES technologies related to wind power generation shows a steady increase over the past 20 years, with a more noticeable rise in filings between 2019 and 2022. This trend contrasts with the plateau in general wind-related patent filings post-2010 and may suggest that a new phase of innovation and investment focused on storage solutions is emerging or gaining traction. This trend may support the theory that core wind power-related technologies have matured, and that attention is shifting away from generation and toward deployment, scaling up, and integration into power grids. One such example is the OESTER project, a European-based project that is aiming to accelerate the development of offshore electricity storage. It is also likely that LDES-related innovations emerging across the renewable energy sector will be more broadly applicable. For example, LDES developments for solar generation may also be useful in the wind power sector.
Figure 4: twenty-year trend – top five jurisdictions for filing – long duration/term energy storage for wind turbines
The development and expansion of wind generation capacity will drive demand for multi-day or seasonal storage and grid integration solutions, creating market pull for LDES technologies as the sector continues to become more efficient. The uptake of these technologies is different across the globe, with some states pushing renewables more actively than others.
In the US, long-term R&D programs, venture capital activity, and strong university and industry links have supported sustained leadership in energy-related patenting. Priority filings in the US have maintained momentum over the last 20 years, with several peaks and troughs in filing activity between around 2014 and 2023. The US appears to be a leading location for priority filings in this sector. Given that wind power makes up only around 10 percent of the USA’s power generation (in 2023), it is likely that LDES developments in other areas are captured within this data, further suggesting the interoperability of LDES technologies.
Europe is also a key area for priority filings, the data illustrating a steady increase over the last 20 years. This may reflect Europe’s positive attitude to the development and expansion of renewable power sources.
China, while being a leading force in renewable energy generation in wind (and as a whole), demonstrates only recent growth in LDES patent filings relating to wind power (since around 2017). China’s industry has historically focused on mass expansion and grid integration, with a delayed emphasis on longer-duration storage. Despite this, recent priority filing data shows a steady increase, suggesting that Chinese innovators are pivoting toward longer term storage solutions outside of pumped hydro, which suffers from an integration lag due to construction times.
India represents a late entrant with a more recent surge in filings. Since 2021, and especially into 2023, patent activity has accelerated, consistent with the country’s renewable policies and energy generation expansion.
Although not shown here due to the lag in publications, the data that is available for 2024 suggests a further increase in Indian priority filings, further supporting the trend shown above.
China and India are set to deliver nearly half of the world’s new renewable capacity this decade, making them central to the path to net zero globally, particularly as China and India are two of the top five largest emitters of CO₂ globally.
China is firmly establishing itself as the global clean energy provider. For example, in 2023, it added more solar capacity than the rest of the world combined, alongside major wind, hydro, and grid investments. It is therefore likely that the rapid expansion of storage in these areas will also be applicable to energy generated from wind power sources. India’s ambitions are similarly high, with a target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power generation capacity by 2030 and a net-zero pledge for 2070, surpassing 180 GW of renewables by 2023, including a record 15 GW solar addition that year. India’s decentralised, market-led approach faces infrastructure and financing challenges but appears to be succeeding.
Summary
With wind power capacity soaring globally and with rapid expansion in China, India, and other emerging markets, it is expected that this massive deployment will only heighten the need for long-duration storage to manage intermittency and grid reliability. If you found this topic interesting, you may be interested in our previous article on long-term storage for renewables from 2021
Globally, offshore wind currently accounts for around 7 percent of total installed wind capacity (94 GW offshore vs. 1,047 GW onshore in 2024).
Monopiles
Offshore wind turbines are becoming larger and taller, with the largest (prototype) wind turbine being the Vestas V236 15MW, standing at a staggering 280 metres tall. As shown in Figure 6 below, the average hub height of US turbines reached over 100 metres in 2023, with rotor diameters reaching just under 140 metres. These dimensions are expected to continue to grow. Despite advances in materials science, the growth of wind turbines demands larger support structures and associated installation equipment.
Figure 5: average US wind turbine hub height, rotor diameter, and capacity for land-based projects
Offshore wind turbines can be installed based on a variety of structures, including gravity-based foundations, tripods, jackets, suction buckets, floating platforms, and monopiles. Innovations relating to floating platforms were discussed in IGIPR 2023. The most appropriate structure for use depends on water depth, seabed conditions, and turbine weight/size. Monopiles are the most commonly used method of securing wind turbines to the seabed, due to their cost-effectiveness, ease of design, and comparatively mature supply chains, making them easier to mass produce and install compared to more recently developed support structures. In 2020, around 80 percent of offshore wind turbine foundations were monopiles.
However, despite these advantages, monopiles are not without their problems. The installation of monopiles typically requires the use of large impact hammers or the like. These installation methods can have a profound impact on marine life because the loud piling processes produce noise that travels a great distance underwater. Many marine species, particularly whales, rely on sound for communication, navigation, feeding, and breeding. Therefore, the installation of monopiles is yet another disruption to marine species that are already facing stresses from shipping, pollution, ocean warming, and overfishing/food scarcity.
Globally, offshore wind currently accounts for around 7 percent of total installed wind capacity (94 GW offshore vs. 1,047 GW onshore in 2024). Although onshore wind generation is dominant, offshore capacity is growing rapidly and provides benefits such as reduced land use. The IEA projects that by 2030, onshore capacity additions will nearly double; meanwhile, offshore additions will almost quadruple compared to 2017–2023 levels. This expected growth, alongside planned cost reductions for offshore wind, makes improving monopile installation technology an important area.
Figure 6: twenty-year trend - global patent (priority) filings - monopiles for offshore wind
Global priority filing data for monopile-related technologies, including installation systems and methods, has demonstrated a steady increase since 2006. The number of priority filings appears to have accelerated from around 2015 onwards, reaching a record high in 2023. Unlike the broader wind technology patent landscape, which has plateaued (see Figure 2 above), monopile-related filings have continued to gain momentum. This suggests that the technology is still far from saturated and remains a major focus of innovation.
The sustained rise in filings likely reflects the ongoing engineering challenges and opportunities in monopile development and may include areas such as enhancing safety during offshore installation, reducing the ecological impact of monopile installation, e.g., by mitigating underwater noise pollution, and scaling up monopile design and manufacture to support the ever-increasing size of offshore wind turbines. This growth also coincides with two overarching industry trends, namely, the rapid global expansion of offshore wind generation capacity and the steady increase in the size and weight of turbines, which appears to be driving the demand for larger and more robust monopiles and associated installation techniques.
Figure 7: twenty-year trend – top five jurisdictions for filing – monopiles for offshore wind
Priority filing data shows that the Netherlands has recently emerged as a leader in monopile-related patent filings, with a steady increase in filings since around 2015. This trend coincides with major milestones in the Dutch energy mix. For example, in 2024, 27 percent of electricity in the Netherlands came from wind power. This was also the first year that renewables overtook fossil fuels as the country’s main source of power generation. The Netherlands, as a leader in monopile-related priority filings, is likely to be a reflection of its advantageous geographic position for access to offshore wind projects in the North Sea; government support for offshore projects; and the presence of several major monopile manufacturers, including Sif Group.
The number of priority filings in China and at the EPO has also shown a rise over the last decade, which appears to be consistent with offshore wind developments in the associated territories. The UK has shown a steady number of priority filings, with more significant increases since 2019, coinciding with renewable-positive policy decisions and the subsequent expansion of the UK's offshore wind deployment, which is expected to grow significantly in the near future. This trend may also be driven by the UK’s evolving net-zero policy positions and the geographic advantages arising from its proximity to the North Sea.
Notably, the USA is not present in the top five jurisdictions for filing. This may be due to several reasons, for example, the share of offshore wind in the US is notably lower than other in other countries, with around 99 percent of wind projects located onshore in 2023. In addition, US offshore wind supply chains are less developed than those in Europe, and therefore rely heavily on European monopile technologies.
On this topic, we have identified two interesting examples of innovations in this area;
Case study one
Ørsted is a renewable energy leader based in Denmark and specialising in offshore wind installation, operation, and maintenance. In 2024, Ørsted successfully piloted a new approach for lowering the noise associated with the installation of monopile foundations at the Gode Wind 3 offshore wind farm in Germany. The approach uses a patented jetting system that attaches to the monopile.
The water jetting (e.g., as described in EP3784838B1 and EP4089235B1) reduced the resistance of the sandy seabed soil to enable foundations to sink into place more easily, thereby eliminating the need for more traditional pile driving methods. The process demonstrated a noise reduction of 34 dB, equivalent to a 99 percent reduction in underwater noise pollution and almost reaching ambient noise levels in the German Bight. Widespread implementation has the potential to deliver faster, quieter, and more cost-efficient installations.
Case study two
CAPE Holland specialises in the installation of offshore foundations and has pioneered vibratory piling technology to improve the efficiency and environmental impacts of monopile installation. The CAPE Vibro Lifting Technology (VLT) tool has been developed to provide faster, easier, and less disruptive monopile installation. The tool enables more controlled installation using vertical vibrations that allow monopiles to sink under gravity rather than being hammered into place. The resulting tool generates significantly less underwater noise pollution. The tool works by providing a fixed connection to monopiles during installation via a series of hydraulic clamps to enable more accurate placement while also eliminating the risk of pile run, a phenomenon involving the sudden drop of a monopile during installation, thereby improving the safety of installation. The tool also has the potential to be used for decommissioning purposes. The tool includes a patented locking system (as described in EP4214366B1) and is expected to be used in the installation of the Hollandse Kust West VI wind farm.
Summary
With the continued expansion of offshore wind and expected increases in the size of wind turbines, monopiles and their associated installation technologies are expected to continue to be an important area of innovation and patent filings. However, it is possible that innovations in alternative areas may impact the market share that monopiles have over time. One such alternative is the use of floating wind turbines, as discussed in our previous article on wind power from 2023.
Manufacturing of turbines and related components remains a strong area for patent filings, whereas installation and grid integration technologies appear to be less fruitful.
The wind power supply chain
In this section, we have considered the priority filing trends across several of the top names in different stages of the wind power supply chain, covering manufacturing, installation, grid integration, and decommissioning.
Manufacturing of turbines and components
Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, and GE Vernova are market leaders in the manufacture of wind turbines and related components. At the time of writing, Vestas has installed wind turbines in 88 countries, providing 189 GW of installed wind power generation capacity and 156 GW under service. Siemens Gamesa operate across roughly 90 countries and have installed just shy of 146 GW of wind power generation capacity and are involved in the maintenance of approximately 91 GW. Meanwhile, GE Vernova has installed 120 GW of wind power capacity in 51 countries. These values outline the scale and influence of these three companies in shaping wind power technologies.
Figure 8: twenty-year global priority filing – wind power by Vestas, Siemens, and GE
The data shows that Vestas led in priority filings from 2003 to 2018, with Siemens Gamesa recently overtaking in 2019. Prior to this overtaking, Siemens Gamesa and Siemens Vernova were locked in a battle for second place. As previously suggested, this recent plateauing may suggest that technologies relating to manufacturing processes, components, and turbines as have matured, with only smaller and more incremental innovations being considered worthy of patent filings.
Installation and maintenance
Ørsted is one of the world’s largest offshore wind developers, with activities including operating, installing, and maintaining major offshore wind farms in Europe, Asia, and North America. Iberdrola are a Spanish utility company with a rapidly growing offshore wind portfolio in the UK, Germany, France, the US, and Japan. Through subsidiaries like ScottishPower Renewables, Iberdrola has developed, installed, and continues to operate and support these large offshore projects. RWE is a German energy company and is the second-largest offshore wind owner in Europe, after Ørsted. RWE specialises in developing, constructing, and maintaining offshore wind farms, with a focus on North Sea and Baltic Sea projects.
Figure 9: 10-year global priority filing – wind power installation, operation, and maintenance related filings by Ørsted, Iberdrola, and RWE
Patent filings related to the installation and maintenance of wind power assets have remained relatively low compared to areas such as turbine and component manufacturing, as discussed above. Figure 9 may be interpreted as demonstrating that the wind power industry is more focused on areas that are likely to provide a bigger scope for innovation, such as manufacturing. Installation and maintenance-related technologies may be less suited to patent protection. Instead, companies may rely on know-how and trade secrets.
As shown above, RWE is a leading innovator in priority filings for offshore wind installation and maintenance and has consistently led in priority filings over the last decade (of the sampled companies). Meanwhile, Ørsted has maintained a steady but significantly lower level of patent activity. Iberdrola, despite its scale and global reach, has not filed any priority applications in the last ten years, suggesting a significant difference in its approach to innovation and IP. This data neatly highlights how different companies operating within the same space can succeed despite significantly different approaches to their use of patents.
Grid connectivity and transmission
Hitachi Energy, GE Vernova, and Siemens Gamesa play key roles in the delivery of power generated by wind turbines. Hitachi Energy focuses on high-voltage equipment, grid automation, transformers, and related technologies that ensure stable connectivity between power grids and wind farms. Alongside their turbine manufacturing, GE Vernova and Siemens Gamesa are also active in this field. This technology addresses challenges relating to voltage regulation, fault management, and the integration of intermittent wind generation, and is thus important for facilitating the growth and expansion of wind power as a reliable power source.
Figure 10: ten-year global priority filing – wind power transmission and grid connectivity related filings by Hitachi Energy, Siemens Gamesa, and GE Vernova
Priority patent filing data related to the connection and transmission of wind-generated power systems to electrical grids have experienced significant growth since 2017, with a notable surge between 2017 and 2019. Siemens Gamesa has been a dominant innovator in this sector, with 32 filings at its peak in 2022, compared to 7 for Hitachi Energy and none for GE Vernova. Hitachi Energy has demonstrated steady filing behaviour across the decade, with a recent minor uptick, possibly indicating a focus on fewer, high-quality patent applications or a strategic emphasis on other areas of the business. GE Vernova, while operational in the area, has shown an inconsistent approach to patent filings.
The increase in patent filings since 2017 might be attributable to several factors. The IEA reported a steady rise in wind power capacity expansion between 2017 and 2022, indicating a growing demand for associated grid integration. The 2016 Paris Agreement may have also influenced filing trends in this sector, since connectivity and transmission-related technologies are generally applicable to other types of renewable power generation.
Summary
The different stages of wind turbine production and operation face different challenges, as reflected in the different approaches to filing data demonstrated above. Manufacturing of turbines and related components remains a strong area for patent filings, whereas installation and grid integration technologies appear to be less fruitful. It is possible that as renewable infrastructure expands during the green energy transition, these other areas may receive more attention due to innovation pressures.
How are the big energy companies investing in wind compared to their traditional non-renewable resources?
Major oil and gas companies, including Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, and Chevron, have taken varied approaches to renewable energy investments, reflecting economic, policy, and market pressures. However, in some cases, these companies are rolling back on those pledges due to pressure from stakeholders combined with mounting R&D costs.
For example, as reported by several media outlets, Shell and BP are both scaling back their green energy investment, instead opting to prioritise their oil and gas operations. In contrast, ExxonMobil has announced plans to increase investment in green technologies by 2030 by focusing on carbon capture, biofuels, and hydrogen power. TotalEnergies has similarly maintained its green energy investment. Chevron has been less forthcoming with their intentions relating to renewable power but appears to be exploring biofuels and other sustainable fuels.
An awareness of these decisions may help to provide context when interpreting patent filing trends in this sector. Below, we provide a comparison between priority patent filings made by these five companies in oil and gas versus renewables, with a focus on wind power.
Figure 11: 10-year global priority filing – wind power priority filings by BP, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and TotalEnergies
Priority filing data shows a clear divide between the companies sampled. TotalEnergies has filed patents inconsistently over the past decade, but very recent filing activity (since 2022) is trending up. In contrast, Chevron, Exxon, BP, and Shell have maintained a fairly consistent number of priority filings each year, suggesting sustained levels of innovation in the wind power sector.
Several factors may explain this pattern. For example, BP and Shell’s brief pivot to renewables may not have allowed sufficient time to generate patentable inventions. The high cost and long timelines associated with the development of novel wind technologies may have deterred investment. In addition, some companies may have chosen to focus on other renewable sources, such as solar or, more likely, biofuels, rather than wind. Finally, these companies may have relied on licensing from established wind technology providers, thereby reducing the need for in-house innovation and associated patent filings.
Figure 12: 10-year global priority filing – oil and gas extraction priority filings by BP, Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and TotalEnergies
Global priority filing data for fossil fuel extraction-related technologies has steadily declined over the past decade, plateauing from around 2021. This pattern is reflected in the individual patent filing data of the five sampled companies, with Exxon consistently leading filings despite its stated renewable transition goals. Filings in this area are significantly higher than those for wind power by the same companies.
Summary
Although the major oil and gas companies have publicly announced shifting towards renewable projects, priority filing data, particularly in relation to wind power, does not necessarily indicate that wind power is a major part of that strategy, yet. Therefore, it seems likely that a majority of innovation in this sector is likely to come from established players that are already operational within the sector. Despite challenges, the outlook for wind power development and expansion remains generally positive, with several significant global projects underway.
Appendix
1. Watt-hour: A watt-hour is the energy one watt of power delivers for one hour. Since one watt equals one joule per second, a watt-hour equals 3600 joules of energy. Metric prefixes are used for multiples of the unit, usually:
- kilowatt-hours (kWh), or a thousand watt-hours;
- Megawatt-hours (MWh), or a thousand watt-hours;
- Gigawatt-hours (GWh), or a billion watt-hours;
- Terawatt-hours (TWh), or a trillion watt-hours.
Jordan Tinkler European Patent Attorney
Paul Beynon Partner and Patent Attorney