Small and distributed hydropower patents: who is filing, what they claim, and where the field is still open
Filing peaked in 2020 at 9 records, then fell to zero by 2024 (-100% over 2021-2024) — though 2025-2026 figures are still filling in as publication catches up with filing. Filings were absent in 2017, climbed to a peak of 9 in 2020, then declined; the 2021-to-2024 span shows a -100% change, dropping from 2 filings to 0. Because 2024 is the most recent year that can be treated as complete, that -100% figure is the one to cite — later years are still being backfilled by the normal publication lag and should not be read as continued decline.
- 1超级月亮电力公司13
- 2HABA HATSUO3
- 3MERRITT EDWARD2
- 4FEIN GENE S2
See the full small and distributed hydropower analysis in Eureka
- The complete ranking, not just the top five
- Every IPC branch with its share of the corpus
- The most-cited records, and where claim space is still thin
Common questions about small hydropower patents
How many patents exist for small and distributed hydropower?
This dataset contains 18 published records spanning 2015 through the 2026 data cut-off, matched against search terms covering small hydropower, distributed hydro generation, low-head turbines, fish-friendly design, civil-works cost, grid interconnection, flow variability and remote operation. That is a small, tightly scoped field rather than a broad one, and the assignee ranking behind it lists only four companies. Because publication lags filing by roughly 18 months, the true current total is likely somewhat higher than what has published so far.
Who are the leading patent filers in small hydropower?
The ranked field in this dataset covers four assignees, with the leader holding 13 of the 18 records in scope. The other three ranked assignees hold considerably fewer records each, and none show fresh filings in the most recent year captured. This is a narrow competitive set, so a new entrant should not assume the space is crowded — but should specifically screen against the leader's claims given its outsized share.
Is filing activity in small hydropower growing or declining?
Filings peaked at 9 in 2020 and then declined, with the 2021-to-2024 window showing a -100% change from 2 filings down to 0. That 2024 figure is the most recent year reliable enough to call complete. Filings from 2025 onward are still publishing, so it would be a mistake to read the current near-zero count as proof the field has stopped moving; the honest read is that the trend is unresolved until later years catch up.
Disclaimer. This analysis is based on Patsnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent records and is provided for general information and reference only. Patent data carries inherent limitations — recent filings are under-counted because of publication lag, counts may be on a record or family basis, classification and applicant-name data may contain errors or duplicates, and the underlying search query defines the scope shown — so the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
Nothing here is an exhaustive prior-art, novelty, freedom-to-operate or validity search, nor does it constitute legal, financial or professional advice, and it should not be relied upon as such. Verify independently and review with qualified patent and legal professionals before acting on it.
Method: Filing trend and technology composition. Derived from a Patsnap search on Small and Distributed Hydropower covering 2015–2026, data cut-off 2026-07-31. Counts reflect published records only and shift as new filings publish. Every share divides by all records in scope. Data: Patsnap Eureka. See the full landscape report.