Evolution of CO2 capture technology between 2007 and 2017 through the study of patent activity

Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to increase by approximately 30% by 2040. Based on this increase, the capture and storage of CO₂ are presented as a suitable opportunity to decrease emissions. This study offers a preliminary overview of state-of-the-art CO₂ capture patents during the past decade (2007–2017). More than 28,000 patents and 5000 scientific documents were collected, analysed and classified in terms of the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) criteria. Most patent generation activity is concentrated in capture technologies that use absorption and adsorption chemical processes (within 35% and 30% of the collected documents, respectively). Moreover, companies such as Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Europe GmbH, Alstom Technology Ltd., ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company and Air Liquide SA dominate the development of these main capture technologies. Specialized companies such as CO₂ Solutions Inc., Akermin Inc. and UOP LLC are leaders in membrane systems or biological processes; however, there are fewer publications related to these technologies. Most of the patent activity is occurring in the USA, Japan, China and Korea (responsible for 64% of the innovations); also highlighting the role of international offices such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) (with 22% of patent generation). The growing knowledge of patent generation over the past decade indicates that CO₂ capture technologies have inspired environmental and economic interest, making it possible to develop established processes that can be implemented by the current industry and to optimize the existing industries. The idea of knowing what are the most active companies in terms of patent production and the fields where they are working, give competitors information about the identification of development trends and economically viable investigation lines.