Dutch companies are increasingly applying for patents on new hydrogen technologies. In the period 2011-2020, the number of patent applications per year for innovations in hydrogen production more than doubled: from 21 applications in 2011 to 47 in 2020. This puts the Netherlands in the top 3 of Europe.
In total, the Netherlands accounted for 4% of all hydrogen patents in this period and the European Union as a whole for 28%. Japan follows with 24% of hydrogen patents and the United States accounted for a fifth. In Europe and Japan, the attention for hydrogen among patent applicants increased, but in the US it actually decreased.
This is evident from joint research from the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). Nearly 60% of the patents on hydrogen technologies come from large companies, including Shell, Sabic and Philips. In addition, SMEs are also applying for patents, including 10 start-ups. The report also shows that most innovations in hydrogen technology focus on low-emission solutions. These are solutions that reduce CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions; both emissions from vehicles and from industry.
The hydrogen technology market is interesting for venture capitalists (investors who invest money in a relatively high-risk start-up or scale-up). The report shows that over the past 10 years, more than half of venture capital investments worldwide have gone to start-ups in the hydrogen sector with patents. This involves investments totaling more than $ 10 billion. In North Holland North it is Faraday Lab in Petten one of the organizations that conducts groundbreaking research into innovative technology for hydrogen production, in particular for optimizing and scaling up electrolysers.
