Annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies in China
China: Annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies was 2,649 patents in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies in China, 2000–2025
Source: IRENA – INSPIRE Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in patents.
Analysis
In 2025, annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies in China stood at 2,649 patents.
That represents a change of down 89.9% on the previous year and down 79.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies in China peaked at 50,247 patents in 2022 and was at its lowest, 120 patents, in 2000.
China ranks 1st of 64 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies in China, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 120 patents | — |
| 2001 | 198 patents | +65.0% |
| 2002 | 274 patents | +38.4% |
| 2003 | 332 patents | +21.2% |
| 2004 | 473 patents | +42.5% |
| 2005 | 626 patents | +32.3% |
| 2006 | 1,063 patents | +69.8% |
| 2007 | 1,782 patents | +67.6% |
| 2008 | 2,537 patents | +42.4% |
| 2009 | 4,374 patents | +72.4% |
| 2010 | 7,013 patents | +60.3% |
| 2011 | 8,653 patents | +23.4% |
| 2012 | 9,492 patents | +9.7% |
| 2013 | 8,785 patents | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 10,166 patents | +15.7% |
| 2015 | 13,026 patents | +28.1% |
| 2016 | 17,431 patents | +33.8% |
| 2017 | 22,523 patents | +29.2% |
| 2018 | 25,548 patents | +13.4% |
| 2019 | 22,234 patents | -13.0% |
| 2020 | 29,454 patents | +32.5% |
| 2021 | 34,082 patents | +15.7% |
| 2022 | 50,247 patents | +47.4% |
| 2023 | 49,499 patents | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 26,168 patents | -47.1% |
| 2025 | 2,649 patents | -89.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 2,649 patents is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2 patents, 1324.5× the median. (15 countries reporting)
- China's 2,649 patents is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 10 patents, 264.9× the median. (9 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,178 patents | 120 patents | 4,374 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,487 patents | 7,013 patents | 25,548 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 32,016 patents | 2,649 patents | 50,247 patents | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 2 United States 266 patents compare
- 3 South Korea 124 patents compare
- 4 Japan 97 patents compare
More energy & mining data for China
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 2.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 20.4% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 15.1% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies in China?
- Annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies in China was 2,649 patents in 2025, according to IRENA – INSPIRE Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 50,247 patents in 2022.
- What is the lowest annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 120 patents in 2000.
- How does China rank for annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies?
- China ranks 1st out of 64 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 79.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from IRENA – INSPIRE Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual patents filed for renewable energy technologies. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Data only includes energy source technologies, and excludes technologies such as energy storage or transport. Figures in recent years are subject to a time lag; submitted patents may not yet be reflected in the data.