The construction industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven an increased focus on environmental sustainability, workplace safety and circular construction, and the growing importance of technologies such as robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT). In the last three years alone, there have been over 27,000 patents filed and granted in the construction industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Environmental sustainability in construction: photovoltaic roof tiles.Buy the report here.

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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.

Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.

80+ innovations will shape the construction industry

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the construction industry using innovation intensity models built on over 240,000 patents, there are 80+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, atmospheric water harvesting and recycled concrete fillers are the disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Smart glazing, eco-friendly HVACs, and recycled waste-based cements are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are wall surface temperature controls, which is now well established in the industry.

Innovation S-curve for environmental sustainability in the construction industry

Photovoltaic roof tiles is a key innovation area in environmental sustainability

Photovoltaic (PV), or solar, roof tiles are photovoltaic modules that resemble conventional roof tiles, providing both a roof covering and an energy generating system. The energy generated by the system can be used to satisfy the building's energy consumption, with any excess possibly being fed back into the national grid. Typically, PV roof tiles would be used when a conventional rooftop solar system is either unviable or aesthetically unsuited.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 320+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established construction companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of photovoltaic roof tiles.

Key players in photovoltaic roof tiles – a disruptive innovation in the construction industry 

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.

Patent volumes related to photovoltaic roof tiles

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, a manufacturer of construction and building products, is the leading innovator in the development of photovoltaic roof tiles. Bouygues, LG, and The French Alternative are among the other key patent filers.

Key innovations in the space by Compagnie de Saint-Gobain include a photovoltaic module with an encapsulated photovoltaic element and an infrared-transmissive decorative overlay simulating conventional roofing. Further key patents include a photovoltaic roofing panel comprising a roofing panel substrate and at least six discrete photovoltaic elements affixed to the roofing panel substrate with their photovoltaically-active areas exposed at the top surface of the roofing panel.

In terms of application diversity, leading companies in the development of photovoltaic roof tiles include The French Alternative, ClearVue Technologies, and Heidelberg Materials.

In terms of geographic reach, leading companies include ArcelorMittal, Innova Patent, and Sumitomo Mitsui Construction.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the construction industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research reports on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in Construction.

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.