According to a recent study of patents by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the European Patent Office (EPO), the European Union and Japan are leading the global patenting in hydrogen. The study measured international patent families (IPFs) filed during the 2011-2020 period and found that the EU accounts for 28% of all hydrogen patents filed, while Japan accounts for 24%. The United States came in third place, accounting for 20% of all patents filed. Unlike the EU and Japan, the US also saw a decline in international hydrogen patent applications during the 2011-2020 period.
In contrast, China and South Korea have seen modest international patenting activity in hydrogen technologies. However, the study notes other countries that have been generating significant numbers of hydrogen patents, such as Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
The study found that the largest number of hydrogen patents over the 2011-2020 period were for hydrogen production technologies, driven mainly by a substantial increase in innovation in electrolysis, which uses electricity to produce hydrogen. This method can lead to entirely green hydrogen production if the electricity is sourced from renewable energy such as wind, solar, or water power.
A large reason for this worldwide growth in patenting activity is the increasing focus on hydrogen as a key strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Hydrogen is a fuel that gives off zero emissions at its point of use, with the potential of being a completely clean fuel source. The regions with the most innovative technologies are now competing to be the first to roll out their technology at an industrial scale, with data suggesting that Europe could lead the way.
OneH2 sees the potential for hydrogen to play a key role in achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Our company continues to invest in innovation across a range of technologies with a dedication to helping businesses reduce their carbon footprint through the application of hydrogen fuel. The future of hydrogen is bright, and OneH2 is poised to be at the forefront of this hydrogen revolution.
