The global transition to renewable energy hinges on a critical component: Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES). As the world embraces intermittent power sources like wind and solar, the next decade is set to witness an explosion in energy storage capacity, with a sixfold increase in global storage capacity pledged at COP29. This surge presents a monumental opportunity for innovators in the energy storage sector.
In our previous article, we analysed patent filing data to reveal the relative growth rates of different energy storage technologies over time. Those trends offer valuable insights into the likely future trajectory of the sector as companies compete for market advantage. Now, we turn our attention to geography.
While established markets like the US, Europe and China are already crowded with patent filings, a truly forward-looking IP strategy must look beyond these familiar territories. By cross-referencing global patent trends with data on prospective renewables capacity, we identify key emerging markets poised for rapid growth and which offer strategic opportunities for IP protection. These less crowded jurisdictions not only represent future demand, and thus where protection may be valuable, but also offer lower barriers to entry, where innovators may enjoy greater freedom to operate and stronger early-mover advantages.
The current landscape in energy storage patents
To determine geographical patent filing trends, we have analysed data from the European Patent Office (EPO) report on energy storage and other enabling technologies.
As the charts below illustrate, taking mechanical and thermal energy storage types as examples, patent publications at present are predominantly in the familiar IP powerhouses of China, Japan, Korea, the USA and Europe (EPO).
Mechanical energy storage technologies include pumped-storage hydroelectricity, compressed air storage, pumped thermal electricity storage, dry gravity energy storage and flywheel energy storage.
Thermal storage technologies include thermochemical, liquid (hot water, molten salt), solid (pebble, stone, concrete, metal), and latent (phase change material) energy storage.
However, the landscape in some of these regions is complex. In China, for instance, a patent subsidy system has encouraged a high volume of domestic filings, creating a dense IP environment, which could present a considerable barrier to market entrants. A ‘Mandatory Allocation of Energy Storage’ policy has also led to an oversupply of storage capacity in China, meaning demand may lag capacity for some time. Nevertheless, China remains a key manufacturing hub, such that pursuit of IP in this region remains valuable.
Whilst the existing patent filings target well-known regions, evolution in the market calls for a bespoke IP strategy that targets regional niches and considers future demand, rather than merely aligning with current filing volumes.
Identifying future hotspots – a data-driven approach
To pinpoint promising new markets for energy storage, we analysed where the deployment of intermittent renewable energy is set to grow most rapidly. The proportion of electricity a country generates from intermittent sources is a more telling measure of storage demand than absolute capacity, as it indicates a greater reliance on energy storage to manage fluctuations.
The maps below illustrate significant regional variations in the current share of electricity that is produced from solar and wind.
Analysis of data from the Global Energy Monitor database on prospective capacity for renewables – i.e., projects that have been announced, or are in the preconstruction or construction phase – indicates where medium-term demand for energy storage is likely to emerge. As shown in the following charts, this data reveals considerable prospective solar and wind capacity around the world, with notable growth relative to existing capacity in emerging markets.
Top Countries by Prospective Solar Capacity and Growth
The data excludes countries with less than 500 MW of existing operating capacity
Top Countries by Prospective Wind Capacity and Growth
The data excludes countries with less than 500 MW of existing operating capacity.
Comparing the above renewables data, which indicates future demand for storage, with data on existing and planned energy storage projects from the GESDB database (comprising 2337 global energy storage projects), allows us to pinpoint regions with key markets with unmet needs, and with high importance for a future-proof IP strategy.
Existing and planned energy storage projects
The US has been excluded due to having 1299 recorded energy storage projects per GESDB, which, being an order of magnitude above the countries displayed here, obscures the data on the chart.
If all of the above datasets are considered in combination and with local patent knowledge, the following insights arise.
Untapped markets for a global IP strategy
Southeast Asia
A typical global patent family may include applications in the intellectual property powerhouses of Japan, the Republic of Korea, China and Taiwan.
Notably, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam are each rapidly developing jurisdictions with high future energy storage needs, but presently have very few energy-storage related patent applications. These countries are making major investments, including what is purported to be the world’s largest combined solar and battery plant.
IP Opportunity: Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines are members of the ASEAN Patent Examination Co-operation (ASPEC) program, along with other large Southeast Asian economies such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. This program allows for the sharing of search and examination results, allowing expedited and more efficient patent prosecution across member states. The program also operates in English, reducing translation costs. Accordingly, the ASPEC program offers a streamlined path to protection in this high-growth region.
South Asia
India is set to introduce the second largest amount of solar generation capacity in Asia after China, and has an energy storage network consisting primarily of pumped storage hydroelectric stations. Despite the sizable energy storage need, there are very few energy storage related patent applications filed in India; fewer than in New Zealand or Tunisia.
IP Opportunity: The Indian patent system is closely modelled on the UK one, with additional influence from the EPO. This can provide legal familiarity for applicants, and prosecution strategies may follow those pursued in the UK/Europe. With minimal existing patent activity in the energy storage sector, India presents an underutilised opportunity for innovators to establish themselves in a jurisdiction with strong future market potential.
Europe
While the Unitary Patent (UP) offers streamlined protection across currently eighteen EU member states, notable growth markets for renewables currently lie outside its scope. In particular, Spain, Greece, and the UK lead Europe in prospective solar power capacity growth. Similarly, the UK, Ireland, Serbia and Spain all feature among the top twenty globally for prospective growth in wind capacity. Spain has considerable existing energy storage capacity, including 3.3GW of grid-connected pump hydro storage (and relatively little battery storage capacity), reflecting significant investment in renewable energy.
IP Opportunity: Energy storage innovators should strongly consider expanding their coverage beyond a UP by validating a European patent in these specific countries. Notably, a Spanish translation can satisfy the translation requirements for both a Spanish national patent and a Unitary Patent, offering a cost-effective way to extend protection across key jurisdictions, beyond those offered by a UP alone.
Middle East & North Africa (MENA)
The MENA region is emerging as a global hotspot for renewable deployment, with Morocco, Egypt and Oman all ranked among the world’s top twenty countries for prospective solar and wind capacity. Despite their vast renewables potential, existing energy storage infrastructure is still modest compared to more established markets. As renewable deployment scales up, the demand for long-duration storage in these markets is set to grow significantly, offering a considerable opportunity for energy storage innovators.
IP Opportunity: Since 2015, European patents can be validated in Morocco at relatively low cost, yet this option remains underutilised, with more than 11 times as many European patents as there are Moroccan patents relating to energy storage. Tunisia also has a validation agreement with the EPO. These agreements offer energy storage innovators a cost-effective and straightforward path to securing protection in high growth North African markets.
Egypt participates in Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) programs with Japan and China, allowing applicants to accelerate examination based on positive results in those jurisdictions. For innovators seeking early protection in a rapidly expanding renewables hub, these fast-track mechanisms can provide a useful competitive edge.
Oman has some of the Gulf’s most ambitious solar projects, but relatively few energy storage related patent filings, leaving substantial opportunities for early movers. While the regional GCC Patent Office route has been suspended since 2021, there are signs it may resume in the near future.
South America
Uruguay and Argentina have high proportions of wind-generated energy (35.9% and 9.9% respectively), but notably are not PCT member states, meaning patent applications must be filed directly. The current IP landscape in the energy storage sector is relatively sparse; Uruguay has zero recorded mechanical or thermal energy storage patents, while Argentina has only 18.
IP Opportunity: These countries represent a very sparse IP landscape with a high need for energy storage (evidenced by the recent tender for 500 MW of energy storage launched by the Argentine government), and consequently represent a good opportunity for energy storage innovators to establish themselves in a new market with low IP barriers to entry.
Meanwhile, Brazil has the largest prospective wind and solar generation capacity in South America, yet energy storage patent activity there remains only moderate, with significant room for growth.
IP Opportunity: Brazil has had a notoriously slow patent prosecution timeline in years past, with applications often taking in excess of ten years to be granted. However, Brazil’s recent accession to the global Patent Prosecution Highway (GPPH) has significantly improved timelines. Applicants can now accelerate prosecution based upon claims allowed by one of 35 partner patent offices (including the USPTO, EPO and JPO). This development makes Brazil a more viable and timelier jurisdiction for innovators aiming to secure protection in South America’s largest renewable energy market.
Central Asia
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan both feature in the top twenty highest percentage growth countries for wind power, with Kazakhstan ranking eighteenth in the world for prospective wind capacity. However, neither Kazakhstan nor Uzbekistan has any energy storage patents identified in the EPO’s energy storage report.
IP Opportunity: Filing via the Eurasian Patent Organisation (EAPO) offers a streamlined route to obtaining patent protection in Kazakhstan and 7 other member states. With only 31 energy storage-related applications filed via the EAPO between 2004 and 2024, the region remains largely untapped from an IP perspective, despite its growing energy transition needs.
Central America and the Caribbean
Panama is set to nearly quadruple its solar generation capacity and has recently held an auction for storage capacity.
At present, Costa Rica is the only country in the central Americas with a validation agreement with the EPO, meaning that it is possible to obtain patent protection in Costa Rica from a European patent. However, in 2024, the EPO undertook a mission to Central America and the Caribbean which included a high-level meeting between the EPO and the Vice-Minister of Commerce of Panama, who expressed interest in a validation agreement between Panama and the EPO.
IP Opportunity: At present, patents in Panama can only be secured through direct national filings or via the PCT route. With no recorded patent filings to date, the market currently poses low IP barriers to entry. This presents a potential opportunity for energy storage innovators seeking early-mover advantage. The landscape may become even more favourable if progress is made on a validation agreement with the European Patent Office (EPO), making Panama a jurisdiction worth monitoring closely.
Closing remarks
A truly effective IP strategy considers not only today’s opportunities but also the prospects of tomorrow. As emerging economies drive the global demand for renewable energy, innovators who look beyond the saturated markets will be best positioned to succeed. Crafting a bespoke IP strategy based on the above opportunities and which accounts for applicability of the technology, regional growth and regulatory nuances can act as a powerful catalyst for long-term growth.
At Carpmaels & Ransford, our multi-disciplinary Energy team has extensive expertise across a broad range of energy storage technologies and is experienced in handling global patent portfolios. We are uniquely positioned to help innovators secure commercially valuable protection for their technologies, ensuring they are well-guarded and ahead of the curve in an increasingly competitive market.