The UNEP-EPO-ICTSD Project on
Patents and Clean Energy:
Patent landscaping and Patent classification
Thomas Maxisch
13.07.2010
Contents
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European Patent Office
Patents and Climate change mitigation technologies
A new classification scheme
Driving mechanisms in patenting
Patent information - esp@cenet
European Patent Office: Locations
The EPO has offices at five different locations.
Its headquarters are in Munich.
European Patent Office  Locations
Number of staff in 2009
Munich
3 718
The Hague
2 710
Berlin
274
Vienna
112
Brussels
Total
European Patent Office  Staff
4
6 818
Around 60% are
patent examiners
Contents
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European Patent Office
Patents and Climate change mitigation technologies
A new classification scheme
Driving mechanisms in patenting
Patent information - esp@cenet
Climate change mitigation technologies
 Climate change mitigation technologies are
technologies aimed at controlling, reducing or
preventing the anthropogenic emission of
greenhouse gases.
 With a growing awareness of the possible
consequences of those emissions, there is
increased political and social pressure to invest in
continuing research into such technologies.
 Indeed, since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in
1997 there has been a significant surge in
research and development and thus also of
patenting in the related fields.
Climate change mitigation technologies
The need for information
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In order to make informed decisions a reliable, comprehensive
documentation of information is necessary:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Global coverage
Technical content
Industrial research and development
Historically complete
"Up-to-date" coverage
Reliable content
Easily accessible
Climate change mitigation technologies  Information
Combining expert knowledge
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Approx. 3800 patent examiners provide highly specialised expert
knowledge in:
– technical disciplines
– patent classification
– information retrieval

Collaborating EPO, ICTSD and OECD identified relevant the technical
fields within climate change mitigation technologies
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Expert group of examiners was set up to:
– develop new classification system
– classify patent publications according to the new scheme
Climate change mitigation technologies  Expert knowledge
Contents





European Patent Office
Patents and Climate change mitigation technologies
A new classification scheme
Driving mechanisms in patenting
Patent information - esp@cenet
Existing classification schemes: IPC and ECLA
It has not always been easy to find sector-related information on patented
technologies using the existing patent classification schemes.
Here a view on the current International (IPC) and European Classification (ECLA):
The eight main IPC and ECLA sections
A
Human necessities
B
Performing operations; transporting
C
Chemistry; metallurgy
D
Textiles; paper
E
Fixed constructions
F
Mechanical engineering; lighting; heating; weapons; blasting engines or pumps
G
Physics
H
Electricity
IPC: approx 70.000 codes; ECLA: approx 138.000 codes
New classification scheme  IPC and ECLA
A new classification scheme: Y02
 Because patent documents relating to climate change mitigation
technologies can be found in so many areas of technology, they do not
fall under one single classification section
 Climate change mitigation technologies as new, emerging technologies
develop very quickly
 New tagging scheme, similar to ECLA providing easy access to the
general public to climate change mitigation technologies
 Already online:
Y02C
Greenhouse gases – capture or storage/sequestration or disposal
Y02E
Greenhouse gases – emissions reduction technologies related to energy
generation, transmission or distribution
New classification scheme  Y02
A new classification scheme: Y02E
Code Y02E
Description
Comment
10/00
Energy generation through renewable energy
sources
Geothermal, hydro, oceanic,
solar (PV and thermal), wind
20/00
Combustion technologies with
mitigation potential
CHP, CCPP, IGCC, synair, cold flame, etc.
30/00
Energy generation of nuclear origin
Fusion and fission
40/00
Technologies for efficient electrical power
generation, transmission or distribution
Reactive power compensation, efficient
operation of power networks, etc.
50/00
Technologies for the production of fuel
of non-fossil origin
Biofuels, from waste
60/00
Technologies with potential or indirect
contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
Energy storage (batteries, ultracapacitors,
flywheels …), hydrogen technology, fuel
cells, etc.
70/00
Other energy conversion or management
systems reducing GHG emissions
Synergies among renewable energies, fuel
cells and energy storage
New classification scheme  Y02E
A new classification scheme: Y02E10
Energy generation through renewable energy sources:
Code Y02E
Description
10/10
.
Geothermal energy
10/20
.
Hydro energy
10/30
.
Energy from sea (tidal stream Y02E10/28)
10/40
.
Solar thermal energy
10/50
.
Photovoltaic [PV] energy
10/60
.
Thermal-PV hybrids
10/70
.
Wind energy
New classification scheme  Y02E10
A new classification scheme:
Y02E10/70 - Wind energy
Code Y02E
Description
10/70
.
Wind energy
10/72
..
Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
10/72B
...
Blades or rotors
10/72D
...
Components or gearbox
10/72F
...
Control of turbines
10/72H
...
Generator or configuration
10/72J
...
Nacelles
10/72L
...
Offshore towers
10/72N
...
Onshore towers
10/74
..
Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction
10/76
..
Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
10/76B
...
for grid-connected applications
10/76D
...
concerning power management inside the plant, e.g. battery charging/
discharging, economical operation, hybridisation with other energy sources
New classification scheme  Y02E10/70
A new classification system
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The newly developed classification scheme is:
– unique in size and content
– easily accessible
– free of charge
– maintained by the EPO experts
– flexible to accommodate new developments
New classification scheme
Contents
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European Patent Office
Patents and Climate change mitigation technologies
A new classification scheme
Driving mechanisms in patenting
Patent information - esp@cenet
Example: Battery technology
Global patent publications
3000
2500
2000
Commercialisation
1500
1000
500
0
1980
1983
1986
Lead-acid
1989
1992
Alkaline
1995
1998
Lithium-ion
Patenting trends are technology/market driven
Driving mechanisms in patenting  Batteries
2001
2004
Primary
2007
Example: Fuel cell technology
Global patent publications
3500
3000
2500
2000
Kyoto protocol
1500
1000
500
0
1980
1983
1986
PEMFC
1989
1992
SOFC
Patenting trends are policy driven
Driving mechanisms in patenting  Fuel cells
1995
MC
1998
2001
2004
Biochemical
2007
Example: Solar photovoltaic conversion
900
4500
number of first filings
800
700
European Patents
Carter program
Annual PV Shipments
4000
3500
600
3000
500
2500
400
2000
300
1500
200
1000
100
500
0
0
1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006
year
Patenting trends are driven by state funding
Driving mechanisms in patenting  Solar cells
MWp
Global Patents
Contents
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European Patent Office
Patents and Climate change mitigation technologies
A new classification scheme
Driving mechanisms in patenting
Patent information - esp@cenet
Patent information products and
services from the EPO
European publication server
Free databases
 esp@cenet - 65+ million patent documents from 80+ countries
 Register Plus - follow European patent applications step by step
 ESPACE EP - "full-text" searching in the latest European patent
applications
Patent information
esp@cenet

a database of 65 million records

a collection of patent documents (applications,
granted patents, search reports, non-patent
literature)

data from 85 patent authorities worldwide

data from 1836 to today

source of technical information

available free-of-charge via the internet at
www.espacenet.com or http://ep.espacenet.com
BUT: for critical decision ask for professional help
Patent information  esap@cenet
Access via www.epo.org
Patent information  Access
Access via www.espacenet.com
Patent information  Access
Access via ep.espacenet.com
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