Supporting structures for PV modules

Description

H02S20/00 is the main group for supporting structures of photovoltaic modules, covering the mechanical mounting hardware rather than the electric generator itself. Subject matter includes ground-mounted racks for solar farms, roof and facade mountings for buildings, pole mounts, and movable or adjustable structures such as single- and dual-axis solar trackers, together with their foundations, rails and clamps. Electrical aspects of PV modules, e.g. their circuitry and power conditioning, are classified in the other main groups of H02S and in H02J for grid interfaces.

Filing statistics

IPC H02S 20/00 belongs to the parent subclass H02S, which recorded 178,704 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 3,332 in 2013 to 30,129 in 2023 (+804%). The most active applicants in class H02 are SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) (54,496 applications), MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION (10,495 applications) and TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (9,464 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings