Europe and Japan account for more than 50pc of international patents for hydrogen-related technologies, according to a study by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) and the European Patent Office.

Patents were grouped into five sections—cell operations, electrocatalyst materials, separators and electrolyser stacks.

Europe leads in electrolysers stacks, with 41pc of total patents in this area; electrocatalyst materials, with 34pc; and cell operations, with 32pc—reflecting the region’s position as the centre of expertise in expertise in electrolyser manufacturing. The region is home to some of the biggest producers in the world—including Nel, ITM Power, Johnson Matthey, Sunfire, Mcphy and Elogen.

50pc – Patents accounted for by Europe and Japan

“The number of granted patents is a good measure of innovative quality and economic importance,” says the report.

The report also notes that the effect of the EU hydrogen strategy, launched in 2020—which outlines measures to promote fast and targeted development of production capacities for green hydrogen—is not yet reflected in current data on patent filings, meaning the region is likely to have an even greater share of patents in these subcategories in the future.

China

Japan ranks first in photoelectrolysis, with 39pc of patents. This is a relatively undeveloped method of hydrogen production but one Irena believes could be important in the future. Japan also filed the most patents relating to separators such as diaphragms and membranes, with 36pc. Both of these technologies are used in more conventional green hydrogen production technologies.

Despite the apparent dominance of Europe and Japan, Chinese firms are starting to look more carefully at hydrogen production technologies.

The development of electrocatalysts that do not contain precious metals is considered one of the key factors in bringing down the costs of electrolytic hydrogen production, and the ten largest patent filers in this area—a subcategory of electrocatalyst materials—were all Chinese universities.

“[This is] a telling sign of China’s efforts to become independent of the use of noble metals to produce hydrogen,” says the report.

“It can be observed that these patents filed by universities are nearly all national patent filings and are not filed in any other countries.”

Patents relating to electrolysis far outweigh those related to liquid hydrocarbon feedstocks

The strong focus on the domestic market suggests the Chinese are looking largely to meet their own hydrogen production needs rather than focusing on exporting technologies overseas, as EU firms are.

However, despite the strong focus on domestic patents, China does show an increase in its international patent filings by 38pc between 2018 and 2020.

Trend lines

The report found a number of other notable trends. First, patents relating to electrolysis far outweigh those related to liquid hydrocarbon feedstocks, suggesting most innovative activity is happening in the field of green hydrogen rather than blue.

Second, patenting activity is moving towards proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) technology. The low level of partial load required by PEM electrolysers and their rapid-cycle ability makes them more suitable for running on intermittent renewable power sources than the more established alkaline electrolysers. If the high cost of catalysts and electrodes used by PEM electrolysers can be reduced, the technology could well become much more favoured worldwide. This explains the number of patents filed in that area.

Third, the recent rise in the number of patents filed relating to green hydrogen is expected to accelerate further.

“The rising trend in patent filings signals that more will come soon, addressing the urgent need for new solutions to lower the cost of electrolysers in parallel with raising technological efficiency and production capacity,” says the report.

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Author: Tom Young