Decomposition analysis of patenting in renewable energy technologies: From an extended LMDI approach perspective based on three Five-Year Plan periods in China

Abstract

Renewable energy technological innovation is greatly influenced by renewable energy markets and policies. In this regard, the paper decomposes nine influencing factors of patents of a specific renewable energy technology using the extended logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method from 2001 to 2015. The differences in a specific renewable energy technological innovation and development during the three Five-Year Plan periods is prioritized at the national level. The contribution of the increase in patents of renewable energy technologies mainly lies in the patents of solar energy technology and wind energy technology, but during the 12th Five-year Plan period, the increments of their patent counts significantly decline. Due to priority given to the development of innovation in a specific renewable energy technology, the improvement in the efficiency of R&D spending, the increases in the share of R&D spending and the share of renewable energy, low carbon economy concept advocacy and carbon scale expansion, the patent counts of a specific renewable energy technology will increase. Additionally, the factors affecting innovation in a specific renewable energy technology at the different economic development levels, as well as different resource distribution levels are investigated.