Hydrogen patents to lead the energy market, and growth in Asia

 

Hydrogen, the main energy source of fuel cells, has recently received a lot of attention among eco-friendly energy. Hydrogen is a sustainable energy source because it can be produced from water or organic materials. It does not generate carbon dioxide (CO₂), which affects global warming, and emits only a very small amount of nitrogen oxides, the cause of fine dust.

Therefore, in this project, we will check the contents related to hydrogen value chain from hydrogen production to storage, transportation, charging, and use by combining patent trends.

■   The Rise of the Hydrogen Ecomony

Currently, in the US, Japan, and Europe, hydrogen city models that have changed life based on fossil fuels to life based on hydrogen energy are being demonstrated and spread. The concept of hydrogen economy is being newly proposed as a model for innovative growth that leads to industrial development accompanied by infrastructure transformation into a clean city with an eco-friendly hydrogen energy source eco-system.

▲ Hydrogen value chain

■   Hydrogen Value Chain

The value chain structure of hydrogen energy consists of the production, storage, transportation and use of hydrogen. Hydrogen can be produced through various methods, such as obtaining by reforming methane gas from fossil fuels and biomass, using by-product hydrogen in oil refineries and steel mills, and electrolysis of water using new renewable energy. Hydrogen energy produced in various ways can be stored and transported on a large scale in various forms of gas, liquid, and solid, and is used as an energy source for all consumption sectors, including household, industrial, transportation, and power generation equipment using fuel cells. As presented below, we want to give a help in understanding the changes in the complex hydrogen economy through the patent trends and the current status of major companies at each stage of the hydrogen value chain.

  ■ Patent trend of Hydrogen energy

      ◎ Hydrogen production

In this article, the analysis was limited to the most important hydrogen production and storage stages among the hydrogen value chain.

Among the various hydrogen production methods, we looked into the reforming, gasification, and electrolysis methods that are most used by year, country, and applicant trends.

▲ Application trend by year

▲ Application trend by applicant

The proportion of patent applications is high in the order of reforming > electrolysis > gasification. Although the proportion of hydrogen production through reforming was high due to the advantages of efficiency and low production cost, it can be seen that the technological direction is changing recently with the electrolysis method that does not emit carbon dioxide. In addition, as the main applicants for hydrogen production, Japanese applicants occupy the absolute number of patent applications and technical superiority, so it is necessary to confirm detailed analysis of related patents.

  ◎ Hydrogen Storage

While the market for the hydrogen storage stage for transporting the produced hydrogen to users is expected to grow, domestic and foreign companies are starting the hydrogen storage tank business in earnest. Through the trend of valid patent data for 20 years, we reviewed the trend by year and applicant.

▲ Application trend by year

Liquid hydrogen storage technology is in a growth phase in which both the number of applicants and the number of applications are rapidly increasing. In the mid-2000s, patent applications were centered on applicants of EP, US and JP nationality, and in the early and mid-2010s, applicants of JP nationality were centered. After 2017, it is observed that patent applications are actively made by applicants of KR and CN nationality, similar to the status of applications by country.

                                                       ▲ Application trend by applicant

We can see the top 20 applicants with the highest number of applications, LINDE filed the most applications with 21, KAWASAKI HEAVY IND (16), GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY (16), TOYOTA MOTOR (15), PANASONIC (14), AIR LIQUIDE (13) ) and MARTIN MARIETTA (13), and as for nationality of the applicant, Korea (6), Japan (6), the United States (4), Europe (3), and China (1) were confirmed in that order.

■ Korean major corporation by hydrogen value chain

In view of the changes in energy-related technology trends of the times, economic and social demands using hydrogen energy have become a reality that cannot be put off any longer. Thorough preliminary preparations for the upcoming hydrogen economy society and specific technological directions are required and the driving force to implement them is necessary.

   In order to obtain a driving force, a market system in the private market such as expansion of clean hydrogen production and reduction of production costs, expansion of renewable energy to be used for hydrogen supply, expansion of distribution infrastructure, and reduction of hydrogen car prices must be established. In addition, policy support to provide guidelines should be paralleled.