Page 5 - AfrElec Week 02 2023

AfrElec COMMENTARY AfrElec

decarbonisation. The US, with 20% of all hydrogen-related
“Hydrogen from low-emissions sources can patents, is the only major innovation centre to
play an important role in clean energy tran- see international hydrogen patent applications
sitions with potential to replace fossil fuels in decline in the past decade.
industries where few clean alternatives exist, like International patenting activity in hydrogen
long-haul transport and fertiliser production,” technologies remained modest in South Korea
said Fatih Birol. and China but is on the rise. In addition to these
“This study shows that innovators are five main innovation centres, other countries
responding to the need for competitive hydro- generating significant volumes of hydrogen pat-
gen supply chains, but also identifies areas – par- ents include the United Kingdom, Switzerland
ticularly among end-users – where more effort is and Canada.
required. We will continue to help governments However, other countries are casting their
spur innovation for secure, resilient and sustain- eyes on hydrogen, even if they are behind the
able clean energy technologies.” global leaders.
India recently said that its National Green
Study Hydrogen Mission would turn the country into
The study presents the major trends in hydro- a global hydrogen centre. Becoming self-reliant
gen technologies from 2011 to 2020, measured technologically is a key aim for New Delhi, given
in terms of international patent families (IPFs), that the country is reliant on imported solar
each of which represents a high-value invention panel technology, for instance from China.
for which patent applications have been filed at Russia and South Africa are also considering
two or more patent offices worldwide. the fuel, with South Africa wanting to become a
The report finds that global patenting in major producer and exporter of green hydrogen
hydrogen is led by the European Union and and its derivatives.
Japan, which account for 28% and 24% respec-
tively of all IPFs filed in this period, with signifi- Need for hydrogen
cant growth in the past decade. The need for green hydrogen is strong, and more
The leading countries in Europe are Germany must be done so that green hydrogen can con-
(11% of the global total), France (6%) and the tribute to the global race for net zero.
Netherlands (3%). There is a danger that not enough progress is

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