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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.

Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.

45+ innovations will shape the power industry

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the power industry using innovation intensity models built on over 83,000 patents, there are 45+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, variable speed gas turbines and HVDC transmission are the disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Perovskite photoactive layering, multi-port power converters, and power distribution control system are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are wind turbine gearbox and offshore wind turbine pre-assembly, which are now well established in the industry.

Innovation S-curve for the power industry

Variable speed gas turbines is a key innovation area in power

Variable speed gas turbines are gas turbine engines that operate at various speeds or rotational velocities, and the power output of the turbine is varied by regulating the fuel flow rate. The gas turbine can change its RPM (revolutions per minute) depending on the application or operational conditions. These gas turbines provide greater flexibility and efficiency in power generation by allowing for varying speeds.

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 35+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established power companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of variable speed gas turbines.

Key players in variable speed gas turbines – 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 variable speed gas turbines

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is one of the leading patent filers in variable speed gas turbines. MHI manufactures a diverse range of heavy machinery. Its products and services include power plants, chemical plants, environmental equipment, steel structures, industrial and general machinery, shipbuilding, aircraft, space systems, and air-conditioning systems. MHI provides social infrastructure solutions in the fields of energy, including thermal, nuclear, renewable energy and the environment, including chemical plants. Some other key patent filers in the variable speed gas turbines space include RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies), Mitsubishi, and General Electric.

In terms of application diversity, Deep Science leads the pack, while Caterpillar and Siemens Energy stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, NiQuan Energy Trinidad held the top position, followed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Beijing DeepScience Technology.

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

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.