Korean Media: China First in Global Patent Applications for Next-Generation Renewable Energy Core Technology!
On June 7, South Korean media outlet *Herald Business* published an article stating that China's patent applications in the field of perovskite solar cells have surpassed those of Japan for the first time. Perovskite solar cells are considered a core technology for next-generation renewable energy.
Perovskite solar cells are a new generation of solar cells that utilize a special material—perovskite—to absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. Unlike traditional solar cells, perovskite solar cells can be manufactured not only on glass substrates but also on flexible thin-film substrates. Compared to existing solar power technologies, perovskite solar cells offer lower manufacturing costs and higher processing flexibility.
The Japanese branch of global information services company Clarivate analyzed patents related to perovskite solar cells filed and disclosed in two or more countries as of December of the previous year.
According to the research findings, the estimated number of globally disclosed patents by December 2025 is approximately 2,000. Considering that it typically takes one to two years from the initial application to patent publication, this study focused on patents filed before 2023 and still valid as of December 2025.
China has now risen to the top position, while Japan—which had long led from 2015 to 2022—has dropped to second place. Looking at annual application trends, China surpassed Japan in annual patent filings around 2020.
China also dominates the corporate competitive landscape.
The research team evaluated the value of each company’s patents by considering factors such as citation frequency among competitors’ patents. In the comprehensive scoring for 2025, Chinese battery company CATL ranked first. Panasonic from Japan came in second, having fallen from the top spot in 2023, while Toshiba dropped from third place in 2023 to fifth in 2025.
The key raw materials for perovskite batteries are lead and iodine. Due to the variety of possible material combinations, there is significant potential for improving power generation efficiency.
Chinese companies have also made rapid progress in commercialization. Chinese solar company Wuxi Jiadian Photonics officially launched its mass production line for perovskite solar cells in February 2025.
Currently, Chinese enterprises are primarily focusing on glass-substrate perovskite solar cells, which are relatively easier to scale up for large-scale production.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867325898858890/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.