Patent data as indicators of wind power technology development

This paper reports a study into the use of patent application numbers as indicators of technological development in the field of wind power technology. We show that patent information can be used to analyse the evolution and the level of maturity of this particular technology. The data is gained from databases available at the Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV). Three different segments of wind power technology; rotor form, regulation and pitch adjusting, are distinguished and maturity in respective parts is compared to the general technological progress.