Currently, wind power is in the process of industrialization. U.S. Department of Energy released the information (see Figure 1), United States, the total wind power installed capacity of 2.47 MW from 1999 to 2009 of 34.86 MW. In 2007 to the end of 2009 these 3-year growth was especially fast, its new capacity of nearly 2000 to 2006, 7 years to 3 times the additional capacity.
Development of wind energy industry is also available from the number of patent applications discerned. For example, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) data (see Figure 2), over the years the number of patent applications PCT from 2001 to 2006 remained at 100 to 200 each year between the 2007, 2008 and 2009 applications are respectively 258, 388 and 515.
Since 2002, the U.S. patent issued over 800 wind turbine parts. Denmark’s Vestas Wind Systems (VESTASWindSystems), Germany this (AloysWobben), Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MitsubishiHeavyIndustries, LTD) and the U.S. General Electric (GeneralElectric) in control of more than wind turbines patent. GE’s wind turbine in which nearly 150 patents, came out top. General Electric is the largest U.S. supplier of wind turbines. According to the American Wind Energy Association estimates that in 2008 the U.S. General Electric wind turbines account for 43% of the market, and has more than 10 companies through licensing its patented technology.
However, GE’s market dominance by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries challenges. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2007, announced its 2.4 MW wind turbine units in the United States has received 411 orders. Simply order the nation to close by the end of 2009 the total installed capacity of 3 times. General Electric in early 2008 in the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) launched 337 proceedings, sued Mitsubishi for infringement of common wind turbine U.S. patent US5, 083,039 (‘039 patent); US6, 921,985 (‘985 patent); and US7 , 321,221 (‘211 patent).
International Trade Commission in March 2008 filing, investigation. August 2009, the International Trade Commission administrative judge initially determined that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and ‘985 ‘039 patent infringement, but did not infringe ‘211 patent. However, the International Trade Commission’s unfair import investigation office (OfficeofUnfairImportInvestigations) Quedui administrative judge’s decision to challenge that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, did not infringe GE’s patents, because General Electric is not in the U.S. implementation of its patented technologies, which do not meet According to Section 337 exclusion Mitsubishi wind generators requirements.
January 8, 2010, the International Trade Commission’s six members of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of determination after review of the wind turbine does not infringe GE’s patents, without violating Section 337, so as to Mitsubishi 2.4 megawatt wind generators into the U.S. market exclusion a roadblock.
However, General Electric, do not be to hand over the market, claiming to appeal the ruling of the International Trade Commission, and on February 11, 2010 Federal District Court in Texas alleging infringement of its U.S. patents Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, US6, 879,055 and US7, 629,705. In this regard, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is not weakness, in the May 20, 2010 in Arkansas federal court lawsuit against General Electric, Western antitrust violations, abuse of patent litigation against competitors, threatening wind turbine users. On the same day, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is also in Central Florida to the Federal Court infringement lawsuit against General Electric, U.S. Patent US7, 452,185.
U.S. wind energy market is growing rapidly. According to the International Trade Commission in 2009 published results of a survey, the United States and wind energy-related imports increased from 356 million U.S. dollars in 2003 soared to 2.5 billion in 2009. 2009, the federal government to stimulate the economy, “U.S. recovery and Reinvestment Act” (TheAmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentAct) decided to clean energy funding more than 100 billion dollars. Trade volume is expected in the future will be more and more small wind turbines , wind energy giant battle between the patent will be intensified.
