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Battery innovation and the Circular Economy: What are patents revealing?

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  • Metzger, Philipp
  • Mendonça, Sandro
  • Silva, José A.
  • Damásio, Bruno

Abstract

This analysis of over 90,000 secondary battery innovations (measured by international patent families) provides a comprehensive account of the long-run progress of a knowledge base with a key role in the transition to a transformative, closed-loop, Circular Economy. Innovation accelerated globally from 2000 to 2019, a sustained dynamic mostly originating in Asia. Patterns of less toxicity and more diversity in technological trajectories are detected and found to bear evidence of pro-circularity. We find a number of emergent technological trajectories, such as solid-state, lithium–sulfur, redox-flow and sodium-ion batteries, each one with a different potential to push ahead the circularity pathway, and which allow for the detection of country clusters. Through a methodology that can be of interest for further research, we examine the extent to which batteries have circular characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Metzger, Philipp & Mendonça, Sandro & Silva, José A. & Damásio, Bruno, 2023. "Battery innovation and the Circular Economy: What are patents revealing?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 516-532.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:209:y:2023:i:c:p:516-532
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.03.132
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