- Capability group
- Energy Technologies
- Domain
- Critical Technology · Hard Power
- Identifier
- factbase.org/cap/51GDXAG414
- Reference
- Hydrogen economy Wikipedia
Papers
62.2k
2020–2024
Paper growth
+30%
2020–24 on 2015–19
Patent families
94.8k
2020–2024
Filed abroad
25%
families in more than one office
What it covers
What the capability covers and what it leaves to others, and the indicators it will be measured by.
Bounds
Covers the fuel technologies; production plants and distribution belong to Strategic Infrastructure, and fuel markets to the economic domains.
Lineage
Carried from v0.0 (formerly Hydrogen and ammonia for power) with the same identifier, absorbing Biofuels (retired): the capability is sustainable fuel technology as a class, with the pathways distinguished at the indicator layer.
Indicators
- research publication share in hydrogen and fuelsResearch
- electrolyser manufacturing capacityPending
- low-carbon fuel production volumePending
Who publishes it
Papers classified to the capability, by year and by the nation of their authors' institutions, 2020–2024. Read from the v0.0 research topics Hydrogen and ammonia for power and Biofuels.
Papers by year
The five leading nations, papers by year
Share of papers, 2020–2024
Of papers with a known author nation; 30% have none and are left out.
- 1China18.1%10,176 papers
- 2India8.5%4,815 papers
- 3United States8.1%4,542 papers
- 4Germany3.7%2,097 papers
- 5Brazil3.6%2,054 papers
- 6United Kingdom3.1%1,749 papers
- 7South Korea2.9%1,633 papers
- 8Italy2.3%1,321 papers
- 9Japan2.3%1,289 papers
- 10Australia2.2%1,262 papers
Leading institutions, 2020–2024
By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.
- 1Chinese Academy of Sciences209fractional papers
- 2Universidade de São Paulo176fractional papers
- 3North China Electric Power University163fractional papers
- 4Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)138fractional papers
- 5Zhejiang University135fractional papers
- 6Xi'an Jiaotong University132fractional papers
- 7Nanjing Forestry University128fractional papers
- 8RWTH Aachen University115fractional papers
- 9Tsinghua University115fractional papers
- 10University of Ontario Institute of Technology103fractional papers
Who patents it
Patent families by the nation of origin of their applicants and their earliest priority year, from the CPC and IPC classes the capability is read from. 2025 onwards is incomplete: families are published 18 months after priority.
Families by priority year
The five leading origins, families by year
16,004 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 11% of families (HHI 38 of 10,000: unconcentrated).
Share of families by origin, 2020–2024
- 1China58.4%55,376 families
- 2Japan10.2%9,653 families
- 3South Korea10.1%9,571 families
- 4Germany6.8%6,475 families
- 5United States5.3%5,060 families
- 6France1.9%1,772 families
- 7United Kingdom0.9%899 families
- 8Denmark0.5%511 families
- 9Canada0.5%428 families
- 10Italy0.5%427 families
Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024
Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.
- 1BOSCH GMBH ROBERT1,849international families
- 2TOYOTA MOTOR CORP1,475international families
- 3TOYOTA MOTOR CO LTD1,457international families
- 4HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD1,336international families
- 5HONDA MOTOR CO LTD958international families
- 6KIA CORP904international families
- 7KIA MOTORS CORP847international families
- 8ROBERT BOSCH CO LTD517international families
- 9AIR LIQUIDE488international families
- 10PANASONIC IP MAN CO LTD455international families
Classification read
- C25B1/04 Hydrogen by electrolysis of water · 79.4k documents
- C25B9/00 Electrolyser cells and stacks · 162.9k documents
- C25B11/00 Electrolyser electrodes · 165.5k documents
- C25B15/00 Operating and servicing electrolysers · 92.8k documents
- C01B3/00 Hydrogen production, purification and reversible storage · 267.5k documents
- Y02E60/32 Hydrogen storage · 68.3k documents
- C01C1/04 Ammonia synthesis · 19.9k documents
- H01M8/00 Fuel cells · 1.6m documents
- H01M2250/00 Fuel cell applications and system features · 64.1k documents
- F02M21/0206 Feeding engines with hydrogen or ammonia · 6.3k documents
- C10G2/00 Synthetic liquid fuels from carbon oxides, e.g. Fischer-Tropsch · 42.7k documents
- C10G3/00 Hydrocarbon fuels from fats, oils and other biomass · 58k documents
Shares inventions with
Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).
- Batteries & Energy Storage7,707 families · 0.052
- Advanced Chemical & Process Manufacturing1,665 families · 0.038
- Biomanufacturing1,585 families · 0.015
Who makes it
The companies that research, design, make, supply and operate the technology, the global leaders and the leading firms of every region.
50 companies in this capability, from 24 nations across 8 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.
- Very high5 companies
- 1Very highChemicals & gasesParisFrance190267kAI
One of the world's largest hydrogen producers and distributors, it runs the 20 MW Bécancour PEM electrolyser, builds the 200 MW Normand'Hy plant and holds a stake in Siemens Energy's electrolyser gigafactory.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · France, Paris · founded 1902 · 67k staff
- 2Very highChemicals & gasesWokingUnited Kingdom187965kLIN
A leading industrial-gas producer, it runs one of the largest hydrogen production, liquefaction and pipeline networks and builds the Dow Path2Zero and Alberta blue hydrogen plants.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · United Kingdom, Woking · founded 1879 · 65k staff
- 3Very highChemicals & gasesAllentownUnited States194023kAPD
The world's largest merchant hydrogen supplier, it is the offtaker and partner in the 2.2 GW NEOM green hydrogen and ammonia project and operates over 100 hydrogen plants.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Allentown · founded 1940 · 23k staff
- 4Very highChemicals & gasesKongens LyngbyDenmark1940–Private
A world leader in ammonia, methanol and renewable fuel catalysts and process licensing, it is building a solid oxide electrolyser cell (SOEC) factory in Herning.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · Denmark, Kongens Lyngby · founded 1940
- 5Very highChemicals & gasesEspooFinland1948–NESTE
The world's largest producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel from waste and residues, with refineries in Porvoo, Rotterdam and Singapore.
Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · Finland, Espoo · founded 1948
- High15 companies
- 6HighHardware & devicesToyota CityJapan1937381k7203
It makes the Mirai fuel cell vehicle and sells fuel cell modules for trucks, buses and stationary power, and it is one of the top international patent filers in hydrogen fuel cell technology.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Toyota City · founded 1937 · 381k staff
- 7HighComponents & subsystemsGerlingenGermany1886418kPrivate
The top international patent applicant in this capability, it mass-produces fuel cell power modules for heavy trucks and develops the Hybrion PEM electrolysis stack and solid oxide fuel cells.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · Germany, Gerlingen · founded 1886 · 418k staff
- 8HighHardware & devicesSeoulSouth Korea1967–005380
It makes the NEXO fuel cell car and XCIENT fuel cell trucks under its HTWO hydrogen brand and, with sister company Kia, is a top-three patent filer in hydrogen mobility.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · South Korea, Seoul · founded 1967
- 9HighHardware & devicesMunichGermany2020–ENR
Siemens Energy (Siemens Gamesa)It makes Silyzer PEM electrolysers at a Berlin gigawatt-scale factory run with Air Liquide, and it supplies hydrogen-capable gas turbines.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · Germany, Munich · founded 2020
- 10HighEquipment & machineryDortmundGermany20151,093NCH2
A leading supplier of large-scale alkaline water electrolysis, it provides the 2.2 GW electrolyser plant for the NEOM green hydrogen project.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · Germany, Dortmund · founded 2015 · 1,093 staff
- 11HighChemicals & gasesOsloNorway1905–YAR
One of the world's largest ammonia producers and traders, it runs the 24 MW Porsgrunn renewable hydrogen plant for green ammonia.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Norway, Oslo · founded 1905
- 12HighChemicals & gasesDeerfieldUnited States19462,700CF
The world's largest ammonia producer, it is developing the Blue Point low-carbon ammonia complex in Louisiana with JERA and Mitsui and runs carbon capture at Donaldsonville.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Deerfield · founded 1946 · 2,700 staff
- 13HighChemicals & gasesBeijingChina2000–600028
China's largest hydrogen producer, it operates the 260 MW Kuqa green hydrogen project in Xinjiang and a large network of hydrogen refuelling stations.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · China, Beijing · founded 2000
- 14HighComponents & subsystemsXi'anChina2000–601012
Through LONGi Hydrogen it is one of the largest makers of alkaline electrolysers by shipped capacity, supplying multi-hundred-MW Chinese green hydrogen projects.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · China, Xi'an · founded 2000
- 15HighEquipment & machineryOsloNorway1927–NEL
A pioneer in alkaline and PEM electrolysers, it runs an automated electrolyser factory at Herøya and supplies hydrogen refuelling equipment.
High relevance · Equipment & machinery · Norway, Oslo · founded 1927
- 16HighComponents & subsystemsBurnabyCanada1979–BLDP
A leading maker of PEM fuel cell modules for buses, trucks, rail and marine, with a large installed base in Europe and China.
High relevance · Components & subsystems · Canada, Burnaby · founded 1979
- 17HighProfessional & data servicesHoustonUnited States190138kKBR
A leading licensor of ammonia synthesis technology (Purifier, K-GreeN, H2ACT ammonia cracking), with more than 250 ammonia plants designed worldwide.
High relevance · Professional & data services · United States, Houston · founded 1901 · 38k staff
- 18HighChemicals & gasesLondonUnited Kingdom1817–JMAT
It supplies catalyst-coated membranes for fuel cells and PEM electrolysers and licenses low-carbon hydrogen, methanol and Fischer-Tropsch sustainable aviation fuel technology.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · United Kingdom, London · founded 1817
- 19HighHardware & devicesTokyoJapan188477k7011
It develops hydrogen- and ammonia-fired gas turbines, runs the Takasago Hydrogen Park validation site and owns a stake in electrolyser maker HydrogenPro.
High relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1884 · 77k staff
- 20HighChemicals & gasesJohannesburgSouth Africa1950–SOL
The world leader in Fischer-Tropsch synthetic fuels at Secunda, it is Africa's largest hydrogen producer and is developing green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel projects such as HyShiko.
High relevance · Chemicals & gases · South Africa, Johannesburg · founded 1950
- Moderate19 companies
- 21ModerateHardware & devicesShanghaiChina2007–Private
It operates the Chifeng green hydrogen and ammonia plant in Inner Mongolia, which is powered by off-grid wind and solar and aims for 1.5 Mt/yr of capacity, and it has signed export offtakes.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Shanghai · founded 2007
- 22ModerateHardware & devicesSlingerlandsUnited States1997–PLUG
It is the largest supplier of fuel cell systems for materials handling, makes PEM electrolysers and produces liquid green hydrogen at its Georgia plant.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, Slingerlands · founded 1997
- 23ModerateHardware & devicesTokyoJapan1948194k7267
A major hydrogen fuel cell patent filer, it builds next-generation fuel cell modules with GM and sells the CR-V e:FCEV.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1948 · 194k staff
- 24ModerateChemicals & gasesLondonUnited Kingdom190796kSHEL
It is building Holland Hydrogen 1, a 200 MW electrolyser in Rotterdam, operates the 10 MW Rheinland electrolyser and is a large blender and marketer of sustainable aviation fuel.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · United Kingdom, London · founded 1907 · 96k staff
- 25ModerateHardware & devicesTokyo / KobeJapan1896–7012
It built the world's first liquefied hydrogen carrier, Suiso Frontier, and develops large liquefied hydrogen tanks, liquefiers and hydrogen gas turbines.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Japan, Tokyo / Kobe · founded 1896
- 26ModerateChemicals & gasesTokyoJapan1931–3407
It makes large-scale alkaline water electrolysis systems (Aqualyzer), proven at the 10 MW Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1931
- 27ModerateChemicals & gasesDhahranSaudi Arabia193373k2222
It shipped the world's first certified blue ammonia cargoes to Japan and plans large-scale low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia production at Jafurah and Jubail.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Saudi Arabia, Dhahran · founded 1933 · 73k staff
- 28ModerateOperations & infrastructureRiyadhSaudi Arabia2004–2082
A co-owner and developer of NEOM Green Hydrogen Company, which is building the world's largest green ammonia plant (about 1.2 Mt/yr), and a developer of green hydrogen projects in Egypt and Uzbekistan.
Moderate relevance · Operations & infrastructure · Saudi Arabia, Riyadh · founded 2004
- 29ModerateHardware & devicesHefeiChina1997–300274
Through Sungrow Hydrogen it makes alkaline and PEM electrolysers and power converters for renewable-coupled hydrogen plants in China and abroad.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · China, Hefei · founded 1997
- 30ModerateHardware & devicesSan JoseUnited States2001–BE
The leading maker of solid oxide fuel cells, it also offers high-efficiency solid oxide electrolysers and ran a 4 MW SOEC demonstration at NASA Ames.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · United States, San Jose · founded 2001
- 31ModerateEquipment & machinerySheffieldUnited Kingdom2001–ITM
A UK maker of PEM electrolyser stacks (TRIDENT, NEPTUNE) at its Bessemer Park factory, supplying RWE, Shell and Linde projects.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · United Kingdom, Sheffield · founded 2001
- 32ModerateHardware & devicesIksanSouth Korea2019494336260
Korea's leading maker of stationary phosphoric acid and solid oxide fuel cells for hydrogen power generation, with a large share of Korea's fuel cell power plant market.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · South Korea, Iksan · founded 2019 · 494 staff
- 33ModerateEquipment & machinerySeraingBelgium1817–Private
One of the largest makers of pressurised alkaline electrolysers, it runs factories in Belgium, France, China and India and supplies multi-hundred-MW projects.
Moderate relevance · Equipment & machinery · Belgium, Seraing · founded 1817
- 34ModerateChemicals & gasesPerthAustralia2003–FMG
Oceania's leading player, it built a PEM electrolyser factory in Gladstone, Queensland, and is developing green hydrogen and ammonia projects, though several were scaled back in 2024–25.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Australia, Perth · founded 2003
- 35ModerateOperations & infrastructureAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates1971–State-owned
Through Fertiglobe, the world's largest seaborne ammonia exporter, and the 1 Mt/yr Ta'ziz low-carbon ammonia plant at Ruwais, it is a major Gulf producer of low-carbon ammonia.
Moderate relevance · Operations & infrastructure · United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi · founded 1971
- 36ModerateChemicals & gasesDohaQatar1974–State-owned
It is building the 1.2 Mt/yr blue ammonia plant at Mesaieed (QAFCO-7), one of the world's largest, alongside QAFCO's large ammonia and urea complex.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Qatar, Doha · founded 1974
- 37ModerateHardware & devicesDresdenGermany2010––
It makes pressurised alkaline and solid oxide electrolysers and supplies large projects such as Energiepark Bad Lauchstädt and Neste's Porvoo plant.
Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Germany, Dresden · founded 2010
- 38ModerateResearch & IPSkokieUnited States2005–LNZA
It developed gas fermentation that turns industrial off-gases into ethanol, and its spin-off LanzaJet runs the Freedom Pines alcohol-to-jet sustainable aviation fuel plant.
Moderate relevance · Research & IP · United States, Skokie · founded 2005
- 39ModerateChemicals & gasesRio de JaneiroBrazil2011–RAIZ4
The world's largest sugarcane ethanol producer, it runs commercial second-generation (cellulosic) ethanol plants at Costa Pinto and Bonfim.
Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Brazil, Rio de Janeiro · founded 2011
- Low9 companies
- 40LowChemicals & gasesMumbaiIndia1973–RELIANCE
It is building an electrolyser giga-factory and green hydrogen production at its Jamnagar complex under India's National Green Hydrogen Mission incentives.
Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · India, Mumbai · founded 1973
- 41LowOperations & infrastructureAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates2006–State-owned
The UAE's state clean-energy company, it targets 1 Mt/yr of green hydrogen by 2030 and develops green hydrogen projects in the UAE, Egypt and Europe, including sustainable aviation fuel pilots.
Low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi · founded 2006
- 42LowChemicals & gasesRio de JaneiroBrazil1953–PETR4
Latin America's largest fuel producer, it makes co-processed renewable diesel (Diesel R) and sustainable aviation fuel at its refineries and is piloting green hydrogen.
Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Brazil, Rio de Janeiro · founded 1953
- 43LowOperations & infrastructureAhmedabadIndia1988–ADANIENT
Through Adani New Industries it is building an electrolyser factory and a large green hydrogen and ammonia hub at Mundra and Kutch, Gujarat.
Low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · India, Ahmedabad · founded 1988
- 44LowOperations & infrastructureNew DelhiIndia1975–NTPC
India's largest power utility, it is developing the Pudimadaka green hydrogen hub in Andhra Pradesh through NTPC Green Energy and runs hydrogen blending and mobility pilots.
Low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · India, New Delhi · founded 1975
- 45LowEquipment & machineryNatickUnited States2020––
A US startup making 100 MW-class PEM electrolyser plants (HYPRPlant) at its Devens, Massachusetts factory, with orders from US and European projects.
Low relevance · Equipment & machinery · United States, Natick · founded 2020
- 46LowChemicals & gasesCasablancaMorocco1920–State-owned
Africa's largest ammonia importer and user, it plans 1 Mt/yr of green ammonia by 2027 (3 Mt by 2032) under its green investment programme.
Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Morocco, Casablanca · founded 1920
- 47LowChemicals & gasesPłockPoland1999–PKN
Central Europe's largest refiner and hydrogen producer, it is building a hydrogen hub network and refuelling stations under its Hydrogen Eagle programme and makes HVO and biofuels.
Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Poland, Płock · founded 1999
- 48LowChemicals & gasesKuala LumpurMalaysia1974–State-owned
Malaysia's national oil company, it develops green hydrogen and ammonia projects in Sarawak and Kerteh (H2biscus with Korean partners) and a sustainable aviation fuel biorefinery at Pengerang.
Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur · founded 1974
- Very low2 companies
- 49Very lowChemicals & gasesJakartaIndonesia1957–State-owned
Indonesia's state energy company, it produces co-processed sustainable aviation fuel and HVO at its Cilacap refinery and pilots green hydrogen from geothermal power at Ulubelu.
Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Indonesia, Jakarta · founded 1957
- 50Very lowOperations & infrastructureWindhoekNamibia2021––
It is developing Namibia's government-backed Tsau //Khaeb green ammonia project near Lüderitz, targeting about 2 Mt/yr of green ammonia; the project is still pre-final investment decision.
Very low relevance · Operations & infrastructure · Namibia, Windhoek · founded 2021
