The power industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by increasing energy demand, need for energy efficiency, and growing importance of technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things and digitization. In the last three years alone, there have been over 656,000 patents filed and granted in the power industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Internet of Things in power: autonomous microgrids. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 70,000 patents to analyze innovation intensity for the power industry, there are 40+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Autonomous microgrids is a key innovation area in Internet of Things
Autonomous microgrids refer to an independent localized grid capable of generating, storing and distributing electricity autonomously. These microgrids primarily operate on renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, and hydro to power its energy demands, with some relying on traditional power sources as well. A key feature of a microgrid is the ability to separate and isolate itself from the utility during a disturbance with little or no disruption. Microgrids integrate energy storage and dispatch technologies to ensure reliable and efficient electricity distribution, even in the event of a power outage or disruption in the main grid.
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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 110+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established power companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of autonomous microgrids.
Key players in autonomous microgrids – 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’.
Patent volumes related to autonomous microgrids
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Panasonic Holdings Corp | 82 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toshiba Corp | 69 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Wobben Properties Gmbh | 51 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sony Group Corp | 49 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kyocera Corp | 46 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Mitsubishi Electric Corp | 42 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sekisui Chemical Co Ltd | 35 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH | 31 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Johnson Controls International Plc | 29 | Unlock Company Profile |
| State Grid Corporation of China | 26 | Unlock Company Profile |
| General Electric Co | 24 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sunverge Energy Inc | 21 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Paloma Industries Ltd. | 20 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Gree Electric Appliances Inc of Zhuhai | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| AMETEK Inc | 17 | Unlock Company Profile |
| LG Corp | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Siemens AG | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sofibol SCA | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd | 13 | Unlock Company Profile |
| A.T. Kearney Inc | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Denso Corp | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| E.ON SE | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Tesla Inc | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Lt Lighting Taiwan Corp | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Willdan Group Inc | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| South East Water Corporation | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Enphase Energy Inc | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Tokitae LLC | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hitachi Ltd | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Smardt Chiller Group Inc. | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Asahi Kasei Corp | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| ThyssenKrupp AG | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| BASF SE | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| IKS Co Ltd | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Zeon Corp | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Greensleeves LLC | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| The Chugoku Electric Power Co Inc | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| HPS Home Power Solutions GmbH | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Honda Motor Co Ltd | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Eaton Corporation Plc | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Omron Tateisi Electronics Co | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Acciona SA | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| NantEnergy Inc | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Twenty First Century Utilities, LLC | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Orison | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Electricite de France SA | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Beijing Sifang Automation Co Ltd | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Korea Electric Power Corp | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Chung-Hsin Electric and Machinery Manufacturing Corp | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Panasonic is one of the leading patent filers in autonomous microgrids. Panasonic develops, engineers, manufactures and commercializes diverse electronic technologies and products in the areas of home appliances and domestic equipment, equipment and systems for manufacturing, batteries and electronic components for mobility and social infrastructure. Some other key patent filers in the autonomous microgrid space include Toshiba, Wobben Properties, and Sony Group.
In terms of application diversity, EnBW Energie Baden-Wurttemberg, Ford Motor, and Vestas Wind Systems are the leading patent filers. By means of geographic reach, Sunverge Energy held the top position, followed by Paloma Industries and Wobben Properties.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the power industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Internet of Things in Power (2021).
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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.
