This study combines the expertise of the International Energy Agency and the European Patent Office and is the most comprehensive, global and up-to-date investigation so far of patenting in the area of electricity grids.

The analysis reveals a dramatic acceleration of innovation around the year 2010 and another surge later in that decade. AI has been at the core of the latest burst of grid-related patenting.

Europe has been among the global leaders over the past decade, but Asia is a strong competition especially in the domain of smart grids.