Patents can act as an indicator of innovation in a given region
EU and Japan dominate hydrogen patents
China is showing increasing interest in the development of electrocatalysts that do not contain precious metals, says a report by Irena and the European Patent Office
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, M
Also in this section
16 May 2025
Only 21% of approved IPCEI projects reach FID as cost overruns and funding delays hamper progress, according to European Commission officials
14 May 2025
Defining moment for US hydrogen sector as House Republicans seek termination of green tax credits
13 May 2025
Existing specifications have been a good starting point for standardisation of hydrogen quality, but they need rethinking—a 99.5 mol-% specification is a promising candidate
12 May 2025
The sector needs a standard covering hydrogen quality for the entire value chain, but no single hydrogen quality covers the needs of all stakeholders
