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Data Insights Innovation in oil & gas: green hydrogen synthesis

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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.

Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.

65+ innovations will shape the oil & gas industry

According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the oil & gas industry using innovation intensity models built on over 201,000 patents, there are 65+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, gas pipeline network monitoring, high-pressure gas vessels, and boil-off gas treatment are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Hydrocarbon lubricants, CO2 electroreduction and oil well surveillance are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are syngas production and gas scrubbing, which are now well established in the industry.

Innovation S-curve for the oil & gas industry

Green hydrogen synthesis is a key innovation area in oil & gas

Green hydrogen synthesis refers to the process of producing hydrogen using renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, in combination with electrolysis. The method is considered environmentally friendly and sustainable as it does not produce greenhouse gas emissions.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 495+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established oil & gas companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of green hydrogen synthesis.

Key players in green hydrogen synthesis – a disruptive innovation in the oil & gas industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’. 

Patent volumes related to green hydrogen synthesis

CEA is one of the leading patent filers in green hydrogen synthesis for the oil & gas industry. The French government research organization is a leader in low carbon energies technology development. In accordance with the French Green Hydrogen Plan 2020-2030, CEA has undertaken several research projects focusing on green hydrogen. Some other key patent filers in the space include The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, Toshiba, and Siemens.

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, Toshiba and TotalEnergies are among the leaders in terms of application diversity. TotalEnergies is actively involved in the development of hydrogen economy in Europe. It currently operates two green hydrogen plants, whereas as an operator it has nine upcoming green hydrogen plants spread across Europe, Americas, Africa, and Oceania.

By means of geographic reach, SoftBank Group held the top position, followed by NACCO Materials Handling Group and Metso. Japanese multinational investment firm, SoftBank Group, has extended financial support to upcoming green hydrogen projects across the world, including Saudi Arabia, Kenya, California, Mongolia, India, and Norway.

As the world takes early steps towards decarbonization and overall energy transition, the pioneers of green hydrogen synthesis could well become the drivers of the energy markets in the future.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the oil & gas industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Oil & Gas.

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.