Electricity grid patents are surging as countries target artificial intelligence (AI) technology, according to a study by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Europe, Japan and the USA are leading in power network patents, with China emerging as a strong player in smart grids.

New patents to integrate AI into power grids have grown sixfold in recent years, with the USA and China leading the way in AI for smart grid development, according to the study.

The report shows how patents for electricity grid technologies have surged over the past two decades as advances in digital integration and the rollout of clean energy sources are driving innovation across the energy sector. Software innovations boosted smart features in physical grid patents by 50% between 2010 and 2022, with supply-demand forecasting tools and electric vehicle charging representing the two largest areas of growth in this category.

Innovation in electricity infrastructure is one of the fastest growing technology fields in the world today. To illustrate the scale of growth, the report pinpoints the period between 2009 and 2013 when innovation in electricity grids grew 30% a year, seven times faster than the average for all other technology fields.

The report uses global patent data to map innovation in physical and smart grid technologies from 2001 to 2022, based on international patent families. It shows momentum gradually stabilising, but new applications remain at a consistently high level in most major regions.

“Inadequate electricity grids are a barrier to economic activity and energy access while also making deployment of clean energy technologies more costly and complex,” said IEA (www.iea.org) executive director Fatih Birol. “This study shows that innovators are responding to the need for more competitive and flexible grid technologies, an issue that is too often overlooked. The data show encouraging growth in innovations to expand and maintain critical network infrastructure. This growth is now led by China, raising the competitive stakes for other regions. We will continue to help governments spur innovation for secure and sustainable energy transitions.”

EPO (www.epo.org) president António Campinos added: “Europe must take the lead in new clean technologies and accelerate the energy transition away from fossil fuels. Significant progress has already been made, highlighting the urgency of investing in smarter, more flexible electricity networks to balance growing power demand with variable energy sources. This study offers a unique view of patenting trends, serving as a map for our transition to a new energy system.”

The European Union and Japan lead in grid innovation, each region accounting for 22% of all grid-related patents from 2011 to 2022, with the USA at 20%. Within Europe, Germany (11%), Switzerland (5%), France (4%), UK (2%) and Italy (1%) are the top countries of origin of grid patents. Meanwhile, China has emerged as the fastest-growing region for grid-related patents. Its share rose from 7% in 2013 to 25% in 2022, overtaking the EU in 2022 to become the top patenting region in this field for the first time.

The study finds universities, research institutes and smaller companies also play a significant role in electricity grid innovation. Most grid-technology startups are based in Europe and the USA; 37% of them have applied for a patent, which is significantly higher than the 6% average for European start-ups and suggests strong potential for attracting venture capital.

For more on the report, go to www.iea.org/reports/patents-for-enhanced-electricity-grids.