 Total Patents | | 86 997.0 | 102 705.0 | 104 708.0 | 108 598.0 | 118 596.0 | 132 389.0 | 144 370.0 | 154 847.0 | 159 861.0 | 148 955.0 | 154 607.0 | 161 309.0 | .. |
| Total Patents | Selected environment-related technologies | | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| Selected environment-related technologies | General Environmental Management | | 1 847.0 | 2 071.0 | 2 108.0 | 2 143.0 | 2 283.0 | 2 524.0 | 2 474.0 | 2 780.0 | 2 995.0 | 2 846.0 | 3 069.0 | 3 392.0 | .. |
| General Environmental Management | Air pollution abatement (from stationary sources) | | 616.0 | 682.0 | 634.0 | 698.0 | 780.0 | 939.0 | 945.0 | 1 162.0 | 1 257.0 | 1 167.0 | 1 191.0 | 1 359.0 | .. |
| Water pollution abatement | | 776.0 | 866.0 | 911.0 | 918.0 | 969.0 | 1 029.0 | 994.0 | 1 064.0 | 1 137.0 | 1 082.0 | 1 258.0 | 1 377.0 | .. |
| Waste management | | 520.0 | 606.0 | 610.0 | 572.0 | 589.0 | 617.0 | 584.0 | 588.0 | 658.0 | 638.0 | 688.0 | 729.0 | .. |
| Waste management | Waste management - not elsewhere classified | | 100.0 | 140.0 | 150.0 | 135.0 | 120.0 | 162.0 | 152.0 | 153.0 | 208.0 | 197.0 | 177.0 | 221.0 | .. |
| Solid waste collection | | 44.0 | 56.0 | 63.0 | 77.0 | 77.0 | 86.0 | 90.0 | 60.0 | 82.0 | 60.0 | 78.0 | 110.0 | .. |
| Material recycling | | 277.0 | 325.0 | 321.0 | 288.0 | 308.0 | 285.0 | 263.0 | 272.0 | 285.0 | 296.0 | 300.0 | 332.0 | .. |
| Fertilizers from waste | | 57.0 | 65.0 | 53.0 | 43.0 | 51.0 | 67.0 | 49.0 | 41.0 | 50.0 | 37.0 | 56.0 | 41.0 | .. |
| Incineration and energy recovery | | 92.0 | 102.0 | 98.0 | 86.0 | 96.0 | 100.0 | 82.0 | 122.0 | 111.0 | 119.0 | 145.0 | 98.0 | .. |
| Landfilling (not available) | | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .. | .. |
| Soil remediation | | 69.0 | 58.0 | 92.0 | 73.0 | 61.0 | 54.0 | 39.0 | 43.0 | 51.0 | 45.0 | 42.0 | 42.0 | .. |
| Environmental monitoring | | 36.0 | 39.0 | 30.0 | 39.0 | 49.0 | 73.0 | 59.0 | 54.0 | 55.0 | 57.0 | 42.0 | 67.0 | .. |
| Energy generation from renewable and non-fossil sources | | 400.0 | 494.0 | 630.0 | 701.0 | 831.0 | 1 024.0 | 1 302.0 | 1 906.0 | 2 882.0 | 3 572.0 | 4 233.0 | 2 249.0 | .. |
| Energy generation from renewable and non-fossil sources | Renewable energy generation | | 317.0 | 414.0 | 524.0 | 586.0 | 686.0 | 831.0 | 1 020.0 | 1 469.0 | 2 221.0 | 2 881.0 | 3 589.0 | 1 950.0 | .. |
| Renewable energy generation | Wind energy | | 104.0 | 112.0 | 164.0 | 176.0 | 214.0 | 206.0 | 226.0 | 387.0 | 554.0 | 734.0 | 937.0 | 520.0 | .. |
| Solar thermal energy | | 53.0 | 85.0 | 106.0 | 84.0 | 116.0 | 122.0 | 170.0 | 271.0 | 398.0 | 513.0 | 641.0 | 288.0 | .. |
| Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy | | 126.0 | 187.0 | 219.0 | 262.0 | 297.0 | 410.0 | 549.0 | 749.0 | 1 165.0 | 1 522.0 | 1 887.0 | 1 026.0 | .. |
| Solar thermal-PV hybrids | | 5.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 30.0 | 35.0 | 41.0 | 16.0 | .. |
| Geothermal energy | | 6.0 | 11.0 | 12.0 | 13.0 | 11.0 | 21.0 | 19.0 | 31.0 | 51.0 | 60.0 | 39.0 | 20.0 | .. |
| Marine energy (excluding tidal) | | 16.0 | 23.0 | 22.0 | 28.0 | 44.0 | 61.0 | 60.0 | 91.0 | 122.0 | 164.0 | 158.0 | 83.0 | .. |
| Hydro energy - tidal, stream or damless | | 24.0 | 13.0 | 20.0 | 31.0 | 35.0 | 41.0 | 48.0 | 73.0 | 131.0 | 135.0 | 146.0 | 64.0 | .. |
| Hydro energy - conventional | | 23.0 | 25.0 | 35.0 | 42.0 | 41.0 | 68.0 | 61.0 | 77.0 | 107.0 | 120.0 | 149.0 | 90.0 | .. |
| Energy generation from fuels of non-fossil origin | | 83.0 | 80.0 | 106.0 | 115.0 | 145.0 | 193.0 | 282.0 | 440.0 | 662.0 | 691.0 | 651.0 | 305.0 | .. |
| Energy generation from fuels of non-fossil origin | Biofuels | | 62.0 | 59.0 | 74.0 | 88.0 | 106.0 | 148.0 | 218.0 | 363.0 | 534.0 | 552.0 | 541.0 | 245.0 | .. |
| Fuel from waste (e.g. methane) | | 34.0 | 33.0 | 54.0 | 44.0 | 61.0 | 87.0 | 118.0 | 161.0 | 234.0 | 261.0 | 245.0 | 137.0 | .. |
| Combustion technologies with mitigation potential (e.g. using fossil fuels, biomass, waste, etc.) | | 86.0 | 108.0 | 127.0 | 130.0 | 159.0 | 144.0 | 204.0 | 215.0 | 304.0 | 357.0 | 278.0 | 113.0 | .. |
| Combustion technologies with mitigation potential (e.g. using fossil fuels, biomass, waste, etc.) | Technologies for improved output efficiency (Combined combustion) | | 60.0 | 83.0 | 98.0 | 97.0 | 122.0 | 115.0 | 165.0 | 178.0 | 252.0 | 281.0 | 228.0 | 87.0 | .. |
| Technologies for improved output efficiency (Combined combustion) | Heat utilisation in combustion or incineration of waste | | 18.0 | 18.0 | 19.0 | 18.0 | 27.0 | 22.0 | 27.0 | 21.0 | 31.0 | 29.0 | 29.0 | 8.0 | .. |
| Combined heat and power (CHP) | | 10.0 | 23.0 | 34.0 | 29.0 | 32.0 | 23.0 | 32.0 | 42.0 | 44.0 | 38.0 | 60.0 | 17.0 | .. |
| Combined cycles (incl. CCPP, CCGT, IGCC, IGCC+CCS) | | 33.0 | 52.0 | 59.0 | 60.0 | 71.0 | 77.0 | 112.0 | 129.0 | 189.0 | 229.0 | 156.0 | 67.0 | .. |
| Technologies for improved input efficiency (Efficient combustion or heat usage) | | 29.0 | 27.0 | 31.0 | 35.0 | 43.0 | 32.0 | 44.0 | 41.0 | 61.0 | 80.0 | 55.0 | 30.0 | .. |
| Technologies specific to climate change mitigation | | 80.0 | 87.0 | 88.0 | 101.0 | 100.0 | 119.0 | 183.0 | 208.0 | 297.0 | 291.0 | 302.0 | 7.0 | .. |
| Technologies specific to climate change mitigation | Capture, storage, sequestration or disposal of greenhouse gases | | 80.0 | 87.0 | 88.0 | 101.0 | 100.0 | 119.0 | 183.0 | 208.0 | 297.0 | 291.0 | 302.0 | 7.0 | .. |
| Capture, storage, sequestration or disposal of greenhouse gases | CO2 capture and storage (CCS) | | 44.0 | 56.0 | 59.0 | 65.0 | 63.0 | 68.0 | 125.0 | 146.0 | 247.0 | 235.0 | 271.0 | 4.0 | .. |
| Capture and disposal of greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide (incl. N2O, CH4, PFC, HFC, SF6) | | 37.0 | 33.0 | 35.0 | 38.0 | 41.0 | 52.0 | 64.0 | 71.0 | 62.0 | 65.0 | 35.0 | 3.0 | .. |
| Technologies with potential or indirect contribution to emissions mitigation | | 873.0 | 1 118.0 | 1 167.0 | 1 419.0 | 1 547.0 | 1 808.0 | 2 053.0 | 2 214.0 | 2 319.0 | 2 221.0 | 2 912.0 | 1 695.0 | .. |
| Technologies with potential or indirect contribution to emissions mitigation | Energy storage | | 531.0 | 606.0 | 555.0 | 620.0 | 672.0 | 829.0 | 1 052.0 | 1 146.0 | 1 283.0 | 1 426.0 | 2 094.0 | 1 219.0 | .. |
| Hydrogen production (from non-carbon sources), distribution, and storage | | 78.0 | 108.0 | 123.0 | 123.0 | 175.0 | 193.0 | 286.0 | 238.0 | 266.0 | 232.0 | 225.0 | 94.0 | .. |
| Fuel cells | | 344.0 | 512.0 | 567.0 | 769.0 | 792.0 | 881.0 | 847.0 | 927.0 | 865.0 | 643.0 | 686.0 | 440.0 | .. |
| Emissions abatement and fuel efficiency in transportation | | 1 217.0 | 1 431.0 | 1 511.0 | 1 622.0 | 1 717.0 | 1 893.0 | 2 065.0 | 2 368.0 | 2 690.0 | 2 366.0 | 2 688.0 | 3 363.0 | .. |
| Emissions abatement and fuel efficiency in transportation | Technologies specific to propulsion using internal combustion engine (ICE) (e.g. conventional petrol/diesel vehicle, hybrid vehicle with ICE) | | 999.0 | 1 152.0 | 1 205.0 | 1 208.0 | 1 299.0 | 1 428.0 | 1 425.0 | 1 593.0 | 1 748.0 | 1 560.0 | 1 495.0 | 1 925.0 | .. |
| Technologies specific to propulsion using internal combustion engine (ICE) (e.g. conventional petrol/diesel vehicle, hybrid vehicle with ICE) | Integrated emissions control (NOX, CO, HC, PM) | | 743.0 | 862.0 | 842.0 | 826.0 | 931.0 | 999.0 | 959.0 | 1 071.0 | 1 191.0 | 1 011.0 | 949.0 | 1 247.0 | .. |
| Post-combustion emissions control (NOX, CO, HC, PM) | | 400.0 | 492.0 | 510.0 | 588.0 | 587.0 | 672.0 | 715.0 | 794.0 | 879.0 | 802.0 | 769.0 | 993.0 | .. |
| Technologies specific to propulsion using electric motor (e.g. electric vehicle, hybrid vehicle) | | 98.0 | 118.0 | 144.0 | 157.0 | 165.0 | 188.0 | 297.0 | 438.0 | 564.0 | 472.0 | 781.0 | 1 004.0 | .. |
| Technologies specific to hybrid propulsion (e.g. hybrid vehicle propelled by electric motor and internal combustion engine) | | 43.0 | 60.0 | 74.0 | 83.0 | 96.0 | 172.0 | 226.0 | 334.0 | 428.0 | 385.0 | 384.0 | 498.0 | .. |
| Fuel efficiency-improving vehicle design (e.g. streamlining) | | 123.0 | 175.0 | 186.0 | 263.0 | 256.0 | 231.0 | 293.0 | 280.0 | 356.0 | 252.0 | 337.0 | 307.0 | .. |
| Energy efficiency in buildings and lighting | | 351.0 | 408.0 | 516.0 | 664.0 | 758.0 | 971.0 | 721.0 | 810.0 | 976.0 | 960.0 | 1 088.0 | 1 162.0 | .. |
| Energy efficiency in buildings and lighting | Insulation (incl. thermal insulation, double-glazing) | | 86.0 | 84.0 | 85.0 | 93.0 | 80.0 | 116.0 | 63.0 | 92.0 | 117.0 | 84.0 | 142.0 | 137.0 | .. |
| Heating (incl. water and space heating; air-conditioning) | | 28.0 | 35.0 | 53.0 | 59.0 | 80.0 | 92.0 | 61.0 | 78.0 | 87.0 | 131.0 | 150.0 | 117.0 | .. |
| Lighting (incl. CFL, LED) | | 237.0 | 290.0 | 378.0 | 512.0 | 598.0 | 763.0 | 598.0 | 640.0 | 772.0 | 746.0 | 799.0 | 908.0 | .. |