Patents and Clean Energy: Bridging the Gap between Evidence and Policy – Final Report

The analytical report examines the effect of patents on the worldwide transfer of clean energy technologies (CETs), including solar photovoltaic, geothermal, wind, and carbon capture. Key findings from the study include: Japan, the US, Germany, the Republic of Korea, France and the UK are the source of almost 80% of all CET innovations developed; there is a correlation between increased patenting activity and the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol; limited licensing activity is observed in entities located in developing countries, and confined mainly to China, India and Brazil.