Clean Energy Patents Hit Record High In First Quarter-Clean Energy Patent Growth Index

The Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI) provides an indication of the trend of innovative activity in the Clean Energy sector since 2002 in the U.S., along with Leading Patent Owners and Leading Country and State information.  Results from the first quarter of 2010 reveal the CEPGI to have a value of 379 granted U.S. patents which is the highest quarterly value since the tracking of the CEPGI began, along with being up 42 from the fourth quarter of 2009 and up from a value of 243 in the first quarter of 2009.  Quarterly results are illustrated below:

The components breakdown of the CEPGI shows fuel cells, solar and hybrid/electric vehicles at record levels while wind patents fell.  Fuel cells were up 20 granted patents relative to the fourth quarter at 208 and continue to dominate the other components of the CEPGI in absolute numbers.  Granted solar patents (67) topped wind (35) for two straight quarters for the first time since 2005.  Solar patents were up 11 compared to the fourth quarter of 2010 and up 37 relative the first quarter of 2009.  Wind patents were down 9 relative to the fourth quarter and up 1 compared to a year prior.  Hybrid/electric vehicle patents (50) were up 17 from the fourth quarter for a third quarter of gains in a row and up 20 over the first quarter of 2009.  Biofuel patents (13) were down 2 from a record high in the fourth quarter and up 3 over a year prior. 

Honda returned to form taking the quarterly Clean Energy Patent crown from General Motors primarily based on its fuel cell (29) patents along with one solar patent.  GM was on Honda’s heels with 28 patents of primarily fuel cells supplemented by 4 Hybrid/electric patents and 3 solar patents.  Samsung came in third for the first time based on fuel cell patents (18), solar energy (2) and wind energy (1).  Toyota and Ford followed with 12 and 11 patents respectively.  Both included hybrid/electric patents to which Toyota added fuel cell patents and Ford added solar patents.  Nissan took fifth place with 7 hybrid/electric and 2 solar patents.  GE had 5 wind and 2 fuel cell patents.  Panasonic added 6 fuel cell patents and Hitachi 3 fuel cell and 3 wind.  Toshiba (5 fuel cell), newcomer to the CEPGI, ISE Corporation of California (a maker of hybrid/electric drive systems), (5 hybrid/electric), United Technologies (4 fuel cell, 1 solar), and Hyundai (1 fuel cell, 4 hybrid/electric) all had 5 granted clean energy patents.

Geographically, Japan held steady relative to the fourth  quarter at 96 granted clean energy patents to again lead the geographic areas tracked, which is up 18 over the same period in 2009, to again claim the geographical clean energy patent crown.  Michigan was second with 47 granted Clean Energy patents, up 11 over the fourth quarter and up 29 over the first quarter of 2009.  California was at 38 granted patents, up 14 over the fourth quarter, and up 19 over the same period a year ago.   Korea jumped to fourth place at 31 patents, up 8 over the last quarter, and up 22 over the same period last year.  Germany dropped to fifth place at 29, up 5 over the fourth quarter and up 10 over a year ago.  New York had 11 patents, which is down 8 from the fourth quarter and down 2 over the same period of 2009.  Connecticut had 7 granted clean energy patents, up 2 from the fourth quarter, and up 5 over the first quarter of 2008.  Canada trailed with 5 patents, down 2 from the fourth quarter results, and down 2 over the first quarter of last year.

Further information regarding the CEPGI is available at www.cleanenergypatentgrowthindex.com.  Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C. is dedicated exclusively to representing clients in the protection and commercialization of intellectual property, both domestic and foreign, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. The firm is celebrating its 40^th anniversary and has gained national recognition in the area of Intellectual Property Law and was listed among the “Top Patent Firms” and “Top Trademark Firms” in Intellectual Property Law Today.