The power industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by increase in energy demand, need for energy efficiency, and technological innovations, and growing importance of technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and digitization. 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 Artificial intelligence in power: autonomous microgridsBuy 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.

Autonomous microgrids is a key innovation area in artificial intelligence

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 like 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.

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 140+ 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 (2021 - 2023) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Panasonic 82 Unlock Company Profile
Toshiba 69 Unlock Company Profile
Wobben Properties 51 Unlock Company Profile
Sony Group 49 Unlock Company Profile
Kyocera 46 Unlock Company Profile
Mitsubishi Electric 42 Unlock Company Profile
Sekisui Chemical 35 Unlock Company Profile
Robert Bosch Stiftung 31 Unlock Company Profile
Johnson Controls International 29 Unlock Company Profile
State Grid Corporation of China 26 Unlock Company Profile
General Electric 24 Unlock Company Profile
Sunverge Energy 21 Unlock Company Profile
Paloma Industries 20 Unlock Company Profile
Gree Electric Appliances 18 Unlock Company Profile
AMETEK 17 Unlock Company Profile
LG 16 Unlock Company Profile
Siemens 16 Unlock Company Profile
Sofibol 14 Unlock Company Profile
Murata Manufacturing 13 Unlock Company Profile
A.T. Kearney 12 Unlock Company Profile
Denso 12 Unlock Company Profile
E.ON 12 Unlock Company Profile
Tesla 12 Unlock Company Profile
Lt Lighting Taiwan 12 Unlock Company Profile
Willdan Group 11 Unlock Company Profile
Enphase Energy 10 Unlock Company Profile
Tokitae 10 Unlock Company Profile
Hitachi 10 Unlock Company Profile
Smardt Chiller Group 10 Unlock Company Profile
Asahi Kasei 9 Unlock Company Profile
ThyssenKrupp 9 Unlock Company Profile
BASF 9 Unlock Company Profile
IKS 9 Unlock Company Profile
Zeon 9 Unlock Company Profile
Greensleeves 8 Unlock Company Profile
Kawasaki Heavy Industries 8 Unlock Company Profile
The Chugoku Electric Power 8 Unlock Company Profile
HPS Home Power Solutions 8 Unlock Company Profile
Honda Motor 8 Unlock Company Profile
Eaton 8 Unlock Company Profile
Omron Tateisi Electronics 8 Unlock Company Profile
Acciona 7 Unlock Company Profile
NantEnergy 6 Unlock Company Profile
Twenty First Century Utilities 6 Unlock Company Profile
Orison 6 Unlock Company Profile
Electricite de France 5 Unlock Company Profile
Beijing Sifang Automation 5 Unlock Company Profile
Korea Electric Power 5 Unlock Company Profile
Chung-Hsin Electric and Machinery Manufacturing 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, Greensleeves, Paloma Industries, and Hitachi 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 Artificial intelligence (AI) 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.