Climate change has been paid more and more attention by the international community, and has become a vital factor influencing countries to formulate their energy strategies. The energy utilization of straw conforms to the low-carbon and green development concept, and has great potential for carbon emission reduction. In order to analyze the development differences and clarify the  strengths and weaknesses of straw energy utilization technology between China and foreign countries, the research of straw energy utilization technology development in China and foreign countries based on patent data was analyzed from the aspects of annual application trend, regional distribution, technology distribution and main participants, meanwhile, China’s competitive position in the field was analyzed with the patent portfolio theory. The results demonstrate that China and foreign countries have their own characteristics in technology distribution, research activity, technology evolution and development direction. Straw energy utilization technology development in China is far more than that of foreign countries. However, China is still in the stage of technology research and development in straw energy utilization, universities and scientific research institutes provided rich technical reserve. The technology in China has changed from pyrolysis gasification technology to solidification technology and fermentation biogas technology as main part, with pyrolysis gasification technology, direct combustion technology and liquefaction technology developing in parallel, but liquefaction technology developing slowly. There still exists a large gap between European countries and the United States in terms of global protection, technology export, technology effects and industrialization. It has changed from solidification technology and direct combustion technology as main part, to solidification technology and liquefaction technology as main part, with liquefaction technology be the future developmental direction in foreign countries. In view of current situation and shortcomings, some suggestions on the development of straw energy utilization technology in China have been put forward.