Innovation in hydrogen production technologies has reached a record high, according to the latest patent data reported by Appleyard Lees.
The intellectual property firm’s third annual edition of the Inside Green Innovation: Progress Report revealed that patent filings for innovations related to hydrogen production reached 555 in 2021 (the latest reported data) – an increase of 224 (almost 68%) since the previous 15-year peak in 2018. In geographic terms, Japan lead innovation in this area, followed by South Korea, the US, Europe and China.
Appleyard Lees partner and patent attorney, Chris Mason, said: “Hydrogen technology is rapidly advancing, with a growing number of existing and new players shaping its development. Its diverse technology areas, from transportation to energy storage and industrial processes, underscores its potential to transform our energy landscape.”
According to the Hydrogen Council’s Hydrogen Insights 2023 report, more than 1000 hydrogen project proposals – covering areas such as large-scale industrial use, mobility and infrastructure – have been announced globally, with US$320 billion of direct investment into hydrogen value chains throughout 2030. Giga-scale project proposals account for 112 of the project proposals, of which 91 are renewable and 21 are low-carbon hydrogen.
Green hydrogen innovation surges in past half-decade
Patent applications for green hydrogen innovations have seen an unprecedented rise in the five years to 2021, reflecting the need for energy suppliers to produce more green hydrogen to support the transition to net zero by 2050.
And innovation trends in this energy area suggest that the technologies aimed at both production and storage of hydrogen are each advancing at pace.
In green hydrogen production, patent filings went up from 62 in 2016, to 236 in 2021 (a 280% increase), with three notable areas of electrolysis seeing innovation. The fastest growing areas include: the use of an alkaline medium, both liquid and solid membranes, to transport hydroxide ions between electrodes; a polymer electrolyte membrane which produces hydrogen by combining protons and electrons, and innovation in solid oxide electrolysis.
New innovations to address the storage and transportation challenges posed by hydrogen – because of its low energy density per unit volume – need to increase efficiency, maintain purity and limit leakage.
Chris Mason added: “Successful innovation in developing green hydrogen will help to decarbonise major manufacturing industries such as iron and steel, while potentially providing an alternative to gas-fired domestic boilers – although the UK government has recently minimised the likely role of hydrogen for home heating.
“Clearly, there remain considerable obstacles facing hydrogen, in both innovation production, storage and use, and consumer perception – and it is crucial to overcome these obstacles as hydrogen could play a key role in reaching net zero.”
Multinational companies including Mitsubishi, AIR Liquide, Toyota and Tokyo Gas, are among the top global patent filers in hydrogen production. Other high filers include specialist hydrogen production start-up companies, such as Chinese firm Sungrow Hydrogen and South Korean firm Kwatercraft.
The Inside Green Innovation: Progress Report - Third Edition’s focus on hydrogen was chosen because of its prominence in the global green innovation conversation, as referenced in the OECD’s and United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Green Innovation Database, a global innovation catalogue that connects needs for solving environmental or climate change problems with sustainable solutions.