Spain stands among the top ten nations worldwide for hydrogen patents. The latest report from the European Patent Office and the International Energy Agency shows a steady 5 percent annual growth in these technologies over the past decade.
Spain has outpaced Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy in patent growth, with annual increases of about 4.2 percent, 4.4 percent, and 2.6 percent respectively. Spain also surpasses France, where growth runs around 5.7 percent each year.
Between 2011 and 2020, the European Union emerged as the leading hub for hydrogen patents, accounting for about 28 percent of the global total. Japan followed with roughly 24 percent, and the United States with about 20 percent. This period marks the only major region where growth slowed relative to the rest of the world.
Environmentally friendly hydrogen technologies make up 76 percent of Spain’s hydrogen patents, meaning innovations that avoid fossil fuels. This share is higher than in other European nations such as Germany at 64 percent, the Netherlands at 59 percent, and France at 55 percent.
Electrolysis has been the dominant method of hydrogen production in Spain, and its use has grown by 16 percent since 2011. Other important areas include technologies for splitting water molecules, which have represented significant focus for national manufacturers and researchers.
Automotive patents on the rise
The automotive sector has become the primary customer for new hydrogen technologies in recent years. Spain has played a pivotal role in the patent landscape for this domain, with Japanese innovations particularly prominent in vehicle-related hydrogen patents.
Efforts in recent years also aim to decarbonize other sectors such as long-distance transportation, steelmaking, aviation, and domestic heating systems. While progress is evident, these areas have not yet reached the same level of patent activity as the automotive field.
According to Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency, hydrogen produced from low-emission sources could be central to the energy transition. It may offer critical solutions in sectors lacking sustainable energy options, including long-haul transport and agricultural fertilizers.
António Campinos, head of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, notes that the early focus on hydrogen has drawn substantial venture capital funding. Over the past decade, investors have directed more than ten billion dollars toward efforts to advance these technologies.
Spain has also witnessed a surge of startup activity in hydrogen. Major centers for innovation include Madrid, which leads with around 40 international patents, followed by Seville and Barcelona with 19 each, and Valencia with seven patents. These hubs illustrate how Spain blends research with practical development, shaping a robust regional ecosystem for hydrogen technology.