Germany

Some 65 % of all patents in the offshore wind industry come from Germany:
Technology leadership in the industry strengthens Germany as a business location

Bremerhaven - A comparative analysis of patents among the leaders in the international offshore wind industry - Denmark, the UK, and Germany - has revealed that the German industry is clearly ahead in innovation. This finding was the outcome of a research survey carried out by germanwind GmbH, a subsidiary of the Wind Energy Agency WAB in Bremerhaven. The survey reviewed more than 3,000 patents.

“65 % percent of the offshore wind patents investigated came from Germany! That is a very good result and testifies to the presence of an innovative, high-technology industry”, said Ronny Meyer, WAB’s managing director. “It’s now up to the industry and political leaders to ensure that we build on this leading position and take a key role in the international offshore wind market”, explained Daniela Schimrigk, project leader of germanwind. About 18,000 people across Germany currently work for the offshore wind industry. The analysis revealed that the annual number of patent applications has dropped significantly since 2012. “Because of uncertain legislation, the industry is now in trouble. Government policymakers must take responsibility. The framework conditions to be set in the Renewable Energies Act will be decisive for an entire industry, thousands of jobs, and not least, the energy turnaround, Germany’s project for generations”, stated Ronny Meyer.

An excellent research environment for offshore wind has emerged in Germany since the buildup of the still young industry. Institutes like the ForWind Center for Wind Energy Research, the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology, and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) set standards for international wind energy research. “Research and development is the basis for economic success in the national and international markets for offshore wind energy”, explained Schimrigk. “Innovation is the essential building block of the economic infrastructure for a modern Germany”, added Meyer.

As a project company for innovation, WAB’s subsidiary germanwind GmbH investigated more than 3,000 patents in the offshore wind industry that were registered from 1992 to 2013 by Denmark, the UK, and Germany. The patents were in the divisions of “blades or rotors”, “components or gears”, “control of turbines”, generators or equipment”, “nacelles”, offshore towers”, “relevant applications for grid connection”, and “energy management inside the turbine”. The German offshore wind industry had the highest number of patent applications in all classifications.


Wind Energy Agency WAB is the leading business network for wind energy in Germany’s northwest region and the nationwide contact partner for the offshore wind energy industry in Germany. The association counts among its members more than 350 businesses and institutes from all sectors of the wind energy industry, the maritime industry, and research.
As a project company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Wind Energy Agency WAB, germanwind GmbH initiates and coordinates innovative projects in the wind energy sector.


Bremerhaven, 6 March 2014


Publication and Reprint free of charge; please send a voucher copy to WAB Wind Energy Agency.


Attention editorial offices: For further questions please contact Mr. Ronny Meyer, WAB Wind Energy Agency and germanwind GmbH.

Media contact:
Ronny Meyer
Managing Director, WAB Wind Energy Agency and germanwind GmbH
E-Mail: mailto:ronny.meyer@wab.net
Tel: +49 (0)173 / 7946082


WAB e.V.
Barkhausenstraße 2
27568 Bremerhaven, Germany

Internet: http://www.wab.net ; http://www.germanwind.info.

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