Hydrogen patents for a clean energy future: a global trend analysis of innovation along hydrogen value chains

Coordinating the deployment of the full hydrogen energy value chain is perhaps the most complex of all the technical challenges facing energy engineers and it is sometimes hard to discern the status of all the underpinning technology areas. Patents are strong indicators of innovation activity which can give very detailed insights into the state and direction of the science. This study is a comprehensive, global and up-to-date investigation of hydrogen-related patenting so far. Uniquely, it covers technologies for the full range of hydrogen supply, storage, distribution, transformation and end-user applications, as well as introducing new search strategies to compare incremental innovation related to established fossil fuel processes with emerging technologies motivated by the climate challenge.