Offshore wind energy: Patent insight report

Renewables represent key solutions to decelerate the impacts of climate change and limit global warming to 1.5^°C. Offshore wind has witnessed a surge of interest from the energy community as a means to support the decarbonisation of energy systems and end-use sectors, owing to its considerable energy potential and cost-competitiveness.

According to IRENA statistics, a cumulative 63 GW of offshore wind capacity was installed worldwide as of 2022, and the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) generated from offshore wind fell by 59% in the period 2010-2022. Despite these positive developments, further innovation and action are required by the international community to ensure the global capacity of offshore wind reaches 494 GW and 2 465 GW by 2030 and 2050, respectively, in compliance with IRENA’s 1.5^°C scenario.

This patent insight report on innovation trends in the offshore wind supply chain, jointly prepared by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), assesses patent statistics to reveal technological trends in the offshore wind industry. The report serves as an important resource for policymakers, technologists, companies and investors who wish to gain new perspectives on the development trends that have occurred in the offshore wind industry over the past two decades. Furthermore, the analysis within demonstrates the utility of patent data in identifying innovation and invention trends in the renewables industry.

An online dashboard with interactive graphs can be accessed here.