Transformation of solar energy technologies through the lens of topic modeling

Tugrul U. Daim, Marina Dabić, Amir Rahmani and Mehdi Zamani

Chapter 7 in Handbook of Technological Forecasting and Roadmapping, 2026, pp 152-174 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In the context of solar energy, patents are crucial for propelling the development of renewable energy technologies and mitigating the impacts of climate change. An examination of patents allows for an understanding of the trajectory of solar technology, identifying key breakthroughs and overarching trends. This chapter employs the Hierarchical Dirichlet Process (HDP) to scrutinize an extensive collection of 222,867 patents related to solar energy technologies, spanning from 2000 to 2022, as documented in the Orbit database. The study organizes the patents into defined clusters, underscoring domains such as the construction and structural elements of solar panel modules, approaches to energy conversion, fabrication processes for solar cells, techniques for thermal regulation and heat dispersion, frameworks for solar energy charging and storage systems, the creation of innovative materials for solar cells, novel developments in solar tracking and concentration, and progress in the detection and quantification of radiation. This methodical examination not only illuminates the present state of solar technology patents but also facilitates the emergence of future breakthroughs in the realm of sustainable energy.

Keywords: Solar Energy; Technology Forecasting; Technology Mapping; Patent Analysis; Hierarchical Dirichlet Process; Sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035330843
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