Green technologies have become a vital part of our lives in recent years. They are essential in reducing our carbon footprint and mitigating the effects of climate change. There are many different green technologies available, but in this article, we will focus on four of the most important ones: carbon capture, electric vehicles, fuel cells, and LED lighting. We will also present you with the most innovative countries and companies in these categories.
Carbon Capture technology & patents
Carbon capture is a technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial processes before they are released into the atmosphere. This is done through a process called carbon capture and storage (CCS). The captured carbon dioxide is then stored underground in geological formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers.
CCS is an essential technology in the fight against climate change. It can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial processes by up to 90%. This means that we can continue to use fossil fuels while reducing our carbon footprint. CCS is also a critical technology for the development of carbon-neutral industries, such as steel and cement production.
Top 5 applicants in Carbon Capture Patents
Here are the top 5 innovative companies worldwide according to the patents they have filled in this category in the span of the last seven years. Included are companies Air Liquide from France, China Petroleum & Chem Corporation and Tianjin University from China, Exxonmobil from the USA and Toshiba from Japan.
Top 5 countries in Carbon Capture Patents
As far as the countries are concerned, we present you with the top 5 most innovative countries from 2013 to 2020 in carbon capture patents. We can see clearly China being the leader in this category, along with the United States. Following are, Japan, South Korea and Germany.
Electric Vehicles patents
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. EVs are powered by electricity, which is stored in a battery and used to power an electric motor. They produce zero emissions when driving, making them a great option for reducing our carbon footprint.
EVs are also cheaper to operate than gasoline-powered vehicles. The cost of electricity is generally lower than gasoline, and EVs require less maintenance than traditional vehicles. This means that EVs can be a cost-effective option for many consumers.
Top 5 applicants in Electric Vehicles Patents
Here are the top 5 innovative companies worldwide according to the patents they have filled in this category in the span of the last seven years.
Companies included are mostly automobile companies: Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Toyota but also the chemical company LG Chem. The vast majority are from Asian countries, except from Ford which is from the USA.
Top 5 countries in Electric Vehicles Patents
Here are the top 5 most innovative countries from 2013 to 2020 in electric vehicles according to the number of patents filled in this category.
The country that we can see makes a difference is South Korea which is ahead of every other country in the list especially from 2015 and onwards. Following are USA, China, Germany and Japan.
Fuel Cells technology & patents
Fuel cells are a technology that uses hydrogen to generate electricity. Fuel cells work by combining hydrogen and oxygen to produce water and electricity. The electricity generated by fuel cells can be used to power electric motors, making them an alternative to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.
Fuel cells have several advantages over traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. They produce zero emissions when driving, making them an excellent option for reducing our carbon footprint. They are also more efficient than gasoline-powered vehicles, which means they require less fuel to travel the same distance.
Top 5 Applicants in Fuel Cells in Motive Systems Patents
The top five most innovative companies in this category include automobile companies mostly from Asian countries with the only exception being German company Audi. Other companies are Honda and Toyota both from Japan and the list concludes with Hyundai and Kia from South Korea.
Top 5 countries in Fuel Cells in Motive Systems Patents
As far as countries are concerned, we can see again Asian domination with South Korea, Japan and China being all in the list and especially China having a huge increase in patents filled from 2017 and onwards. The other two countries that complete the list are Germany and United States with Germany having a very high number of patents filled.
LED Lighting technology & patents
LED lighting is a technology that uses light-emitting diodes to produce light. It is more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent lighting, which means it requires less electricity to produce the same amount of light. LED lighting also lasts longer than traditional incandescent lighting, which means it needs to be replaced less often.
It is a great option for reducing our carbon footprint. It can reduce the amount of electricity we use for lighting, which can significantly reduce our carbon emissions. LED lighting is also more cost-effective than traditional incandescent lighting, which means it can save consumers money on their electricity bills.
Top 5 applicants in LED Lightning Patents
Here are the top five most innovative companies in LED Lighting technology according to the number of patents filled from 2013 to 2020. The list includes LG Innotek from South Korea, Osram from Germany, Panasonic from Japan, Philips a Dutch company and Signify also from the Netherlands. This list includes the most non-Asian companies compared to the other categories we showcased above.
Top 5 countries in LED Lightning Patents
Finally, here are the top 5 most innovative countries worldwide in the LED Lighting category according to the number of patents filled from 2013 until 2020. As in the previous categories, the most innovative countries are China, Germany, Japan, South Korea and the United States. More specifically, we see China taking the lead in that category with a great increase in the number of patents filled from 2016 and onwards.
Conclusion
Green technologies such as carbon capture, electric vehicles, fuel cells, and LED lighting are becoming increasingly important in the fight against climate change. These technologies offer significant benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, improved energy efficiency, and improved air quality. While there are challenges associated with each of these technologies, continued investment and innovation are driving improvements in cost, performance, and accessibility. As we continue to work towards a more sustainable future, green technologies will play an increasingly important role in reducing our carbon footprint and preserving the health of our planet for future generations. It is essential that we continue to prioritize the development and adoption of these technologies to create a more sustainable future.
Footnotes
The year in the trends is based on the year of the earliest priority date of the patent family. The top 5 applicants/countries are sorted by the total number of patent families with an earliest priority date between 2013 and 2021. For companies with multiple branches, only the top performing branch is included. The country of a patent family is based on the country code of the earliest priority application(s). For the technical areas CPC-classification is used with the following classification codes: carbon capture – Y02C20/40, electric vehicles – B60Y2200/91, fuel cells in motive systems – H01M2250/20 and LED lightning – F21Y2115/10.
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