The EU is among the main global knowledge producers on early-stage clean energy technologies, second only to China in amount of scientific output, and it leads in high technology readiness level (TRL) output, with China closely behind, according to an analysis carried by JRC scientists. The US and the EU consistently appear as leaders in high-quality patents.
The results are published in a report on technology development, trends, value chains and markets, which identifies 151 early-stage technologies in the field of clean energy. It focuses on how major economies are positioned across a broad set of emerging clean
energy technologies at different Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), using indicators derived from scientific publications and patents.
The report covers early-stage technologies related to advanced fuels, batteries, energy storage, renewables, smart electricity, and carbon capture. It reveals a fragmented global landscape, with distinct regional strengths across early-stage research and technologies closer to deployment.Â
China leads in scale – producing the highest volume of publications and patents in low TRL signals – showing strong specialisation across advanced fuels, batteries, energy storage, fuel cells, photovoltaics, smart electricity, solar thermal technologies, ocean energy and next-generation wind systems. However, much of China’s patenting is domestic, with relatively fewer filings in multiple patent offices, reflecting a stronger focus on protection within its large home market.
In terms of scientific output, the EU is the strongest performer in high-readiness technologies that are closer to deployment. It is highly specialised in advanced fuels, geothermal energy, hydropower, photovoltaics, smart electricity, carbon capture, and bioenergy.Â
Europe also leads globally in high-value and international patenting, reflecting strong commercial relevance, readiness for industrial deployment, and the strategic need to secure protection across multiple markets. Europe strengths reflect a regulatory and industrial environment aligned with the green transition.
The United States contributes a smaller share of output but produces some of the most influential scientific work, example being research on smart electricity, ocean energy, hydropower, geothermal, batteries, and advanced fuels. In patenting, the US performs strongly in high-value and international filings, confirming its role in commercially relevant innovation despite the absence of broad-based specialisation. Â
Smaller players such as Japan, South Korea, India, and the UK lead in selected niches.
These results support debates on EU competitiveness and technological sovereignty in clean energy. Early detection helps policymakers decide where to invest and where to scale up. It also highlights areas where future dependencies may emerge. This can guide cooperation with international partners and support EU climate and industrial goals.
The study was carried out  within the work of the Clean Energy Technology Observatory (CETO), a European Commission in-house initiative that monitors research, innovation, value chains, and market developments for clean energy technologies in the EU. It provides evidence-based analysis on technology maturity, competitiveness, and deployment, supporting key EU policy frameworks such as the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan and the Competitiveness Progress Report.Â
Implemented by the Joint Research Centre in collaboration with the Directorates-General Research and Innovation and Energy, CETO also assesses the EU’s industrial capacity and global positioning in clean energy technologies, and publishes yearly reports.
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