Study on the Innovative Trends of Hydrogen Production: Based on Patent Data

Abstract

Hydrogen production is the beginning of the hydrogen energy industry chain. This study focuses on the latest patent situation of hydrogen production technology and comprehensively analyzes the development trend of global hydrogen production technology from the aspects of innovation sources, market layout, etc. The analysis results show that global hydrogen production technology is in an active period of research and development innovation. The main source and target market for hydrogen production technology is China, which currently holds the relative technological advantages in the industrial byproduct hydrogen and water-to-hydrogen. Universities, research institutes and other innovators have played a crucial role in the high level of patents for hydrogen production. Water-to-hydrogen production is a hot technology in the field of hydrogen production and has emerged as one of its most promising alternatives. The research results can assist policymakers and innovators in planning technological pathways and allocating resources in advance, and reveal a clear evolutionary path for the large-scale commercialization of technology.