Renewable Energy Patents Jump

Biomass boiler heating could be set to improve in coming years as the number of renewable energy patents being registered has jumped.

The past year saw an increase of 28 per cent to 20,905 in 2018/19, up from 16,287 the previous year, according to UK commercial law firm EMW.

This figure represents a steady increase in the number of patents filed over the past five years. The total number has doubled since 2014 when 9,525 were filed.

China leads the way in the number of patens being filed with 81 per cent of them from the state. The US came in second with 8 per cent of the total patents filed by them. Over half of the total patents filed (57 per cent) were for solar energy.

China has been the largest investor in renewable energy over the last decade, investing $758 billion.

While improvements in technology are essential for the improved uptake of renewable energy worldwide, it is important to note that modern technology is already improving our access to renewable energy.

Last year the total amount of renewable energy generated in the UK broke previous records with renewable energy sources generating more electricity than traditional fuels for the first time ever at the end of 2019.

During the three months of July, August and September, renewables generated an estimated total of 29.5 terawatt hours (TWh), compared with just 29.1TWh from fossil fuels, analysis from Carbon Brief demonstrates.

This followed several record breaking days where renewable energy outperformed traditional fuel sources in the UK.