The power industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by the need for growth in renewable power generation, and growing importance of technologies such as geared turbofan engines (GTF), continuously variable transmissions (CVT) and magnetic levitated bearings. 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 Innovation in power: wind turbine gearbox. Buy the report here.
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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
Wind turbine gearboxes are a key emerging innovation area in power
A gearbox is typically used in wind turbines to transform low-speed, high-torque wind turbine rotation to a higher speed required by the generator. Generally, for wind turbine gearbox, operational conditions are challenging, and life expectations are high.
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 55+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established power companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of wind turbine gearbox.
Key players in wind turbine gearboxes – 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 wind turbine gearboxes
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Siemens is the leading patent filer in wind turbine gearboxes, followed by Zeppelin-Stiftung and General Electric. Other key filers include Miba, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Vestas Wind Systems.
ZF Friedrichshafen, a subsidiary of Zeppelin-Stiftung, is a technology provider offering a wide range of both automotive and non-automotive products. Through ZF Wind Power, it has developed a new kind of modular gearbox platform, which can maximize energy production at every site and provides cost-effective turbine designs for all markets. Recently, ZF Wind Power invested in a Test & Prototype Center to empower a sustainable future.
Finnish wind turbine gearbox manufacturer Moventas Gears UK is another leading patent filer in the space. Exceed Gearbox Series is its most innovative product platform. In April 2022, Flender, a global drivetrain specialist, acquired Moventas.
In terms of application diversity, Miba leads the pack, while Robert Bosch Stiftung and Sumitomo Heavy Industries stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Takkion held the top position, followed by Comer Industries and R Energy Electric Tianjin.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the power industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on 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.
