A worldwide overview of advanced nuclear power patents
Part of a series of short reports looking at the worldwide patenting of green technologies. This report focuses on the nuclear power patent landscape.
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In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy to set a legally binding target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In November 2020 the UK government released a ten point plan for a green industrial revolution. Innovation has a role in helping to achieve carbon net zero and innovation may be reflected in global patenting trends.
This report is part of a series of studies relating to the technologies covered within the UK government’s ten point plan for a green industrial revolution. This report looks at the worldwide patent landscape in relation to nuclear power. It looks both at nuclear power in general, as well as focusing specifically on Small and Advanced Modular Reactors (SMRs and AMRs).
The purpose of this report is to help show where in the world patenting activity is occurring. It also shows who owns these patents, as well as how patenting activity has varied over time. This report looks both at the worldwide patent landscape, as well as focusing on the patent landscape within the UK.
The worldwide patent landscape for nuclear power shows that this is a growing technology area. There is a significant amount of patenting activity occurring in China and the US. France appears to be specialised in this area, compared to other European nations.
Patenting activity relating to SMRs or AMRs worldwide is also increasing, albeit on a smaller scale compared to nuclear power more generally. South Korea appears to be more specialised in this area compared to in nuclear power in general.
Looking at the UK landscape for nuclear power, companies such as Rolls-Royce and Tokamak Energy appear important. They are at the forefront of an increase in UK inventive activity in recent years. Rolls-Royce is developing SMRs for use within the UK, whereas Tokamak Energy is focused on developing nuclear fusion technology.
Considering SMRs and AMRs in the UK, EDF appear to be the most active company involved in this area in the UK. EDF Energy, a British integrated energy company wholly owned by EDF, is one of the largest energy generators in the UK. EDF Energy took control of the UK nuclear generator British Energy in 2009, and currently owns eight nuclear power stations in the UK.