The power industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by rising energy demand, renewable integration, and the need for grid stability and resilience, and growing importance of technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. In the last three years alone, there have been over 695,000 patents filed and granted in the power industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Cloud in power: power distribution network simulationBuy the report here.

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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 83,000 patents to analyze innovation intensity for the power industry, there are 45+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Power distribution network simulation is a key innovation area in cloud

Power distribution network simulation is a technique used to help in the engineering of flow of electricity. It is primarily used to control and monitor power supply, detect faults, and calculate power flow. In addition to the management and planning of the power system, modelling of the generation, transmission, and distribution systems are also included. The simulation is performed to forecast how the power system will behave under various circumstances, which helps to improve and optimize the system’s functionality.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 375+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established power companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of power distribution network simulation.

Key players in power distribution network simulation – a disruptive innovation in the power industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.   

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.  

State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) is one of the leading patent filers in power distribution network simulation. The company’s core business includes the construction and operation of power grids. SGCC focuses on research and development of ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission and smart grid technologies. It owns proprietary intellectual property rights and promotes the export of technology and related equipment. It also operates large-scale commercial UHV projects. SGCC supplies power to municipalities, provinces, and autonomous regions, servicing most of the territory in China. Some other key patent filers in this space include China Southern Power Grid, NARI Technology, and State Grid Information and Telecommunication.

In terms of application diversity, International Business Machines (IBM) leads the pack, while Formosa Plastics Group and ABB stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Xuji Electric held the top position, followed by Nanjing Nari Information Communication Technology and Toshiba.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the power industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Cloud Computing in Power.

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.