Solar Patents at record in 2009-Shine on Solar edition of CEPGI

The Shine On Solar  edition of the CEPGI provides an indication of the trends in innovative activity in the Solar energy sector.   Victor Cardona, Co-chair of the firm’s Cleantech Group stated, “Solar patents are now second only to Fuel Cell patents among clean energy technologies. Solar Photovoltaic patents spiked in 2009 to a best showing since 2003 with third generation solar PV patents topping the other technologies.  Samsung led the other Solar PV contenders during 2009 and early 2010 pushing aside overall PV leader Canon.  Solar thermal patents were granted to 22 separate entities with none even receiving two patents and Wal-mart Stores being the only household name among the 22.”

 The Shine On Solar edition analyzes the solar sector and illustrates where patents are being granted within the solar arena.  This edition of our Shine On Solar edition analyzes solar energy trends in general with an emphasis on solar patenting trends during 2009 and early 2010. 

               As depicted below, solar technology patents continued a dramatic rise in fits and starts through 2009 to reach a record high in the first quarter of 2010 after hitting a record low in the third quarter of 2008. 

As depicted below on an annual basis, granted patents in photovoltaic technology increased dramatically to 146 up 60 in 2009 over the prior year after being relative flat for the previous four years.  Although not shown. PV patents jumped another 60 in the first quarter of 2010 alone.  In contrast solar thermal patents stayed relatively constant up five relative to 2008.

The top patent owners in the solar thermal area since 2002 is dominated by Boeing (14), while Canon has been the Solar PV leader.  In 2009 and early 2010, 22 separate entities received single paents in Solar Thermal technologies with 2010 United Technologies and Wal-mart Stores (for a air heating system) being the only household names.  Five of the 22 grantees in Solar thermal,  during this period are non-U.S. based with the rest being located in California, Massachusetts, Florida, Connecticut, Michigan, Texas, Louisiana, and Washington. 

Relative to Solar PV, third generation technologies led the others in 2009 and early 2010 with 32 granted patents. Second generation solar followed with 25 patents with first generation technologies trailing behind at 16.  Over the last five months tracked the Solar PV leader was Samsung with 5 patents followed by four entities tied for second place with 4 patents including Canon, Sharp, Emcore and Mario Rabinowitz.  Other notables recently granted Solar PV patents include Sunpower (3), Boeing (2), Honda (2), Konarka (1) and Sanyo (1).   Of the top 11 PV patent holders, 5 are based in Japan while the rest are based in the U.S.  However, , Japanese patent holders dominate the top 11 in absolute numbers of patents.   In fact, the top three patent holders, all from Japan, hold over 16 percent of all PV patents.

Further information regarding the Shine On Solar edition of the CEPGI and a more detailed report of the Shine-on Solar Edition is available at www.shineonsolarpatents.com .  The Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI) is published quarterly and 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.  The Shine On Solar edition is published periodically and provides in depth solar energy patent analysis.

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 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.