777,000 patents studied to reveal bottleneck in hydrogen tech growth

Researchers at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, conducted an extensive analysis of 777,000 patents and 1.3 million citations over 182 years to identify key bottlenecks in hydrogen technology development. Their study revealed that while hydrogen production, storage, and fuel cell technologies have advanced steadily, the distribution infrastructure—comprising pipelines, terminals, and liquefaction plants—is progressing at only half that pace. This lag in distribution infrastructure development poses a critical bottleneck, threatening to undermine billions of dollars in clean energy investments and limiting the broader adoption and climate benefits of hydrogen technologies. The research highlights that distribution costs are becoming the dominant expense in hydrogen systems, driven by the need for massive capital investments in pipeline networks and liquefaction facilities, compounded by complex safety regulations and permitting processes. Additionally, the concentration of distribution infrastructure among a few major companies restricts knowledge sharing and innovation, further slowing sector growth. Experts emphasize that without robust distribution networks, hydrogen use will remain localized to production sites