Market and patent analysis of commercializing biohydrogen technology

In the face of world-wide energy price fluctuation, energy supply security, and the energy crisis, it becomes an urgent issue to search for alternative methods for energy generation and to close the gap between the supply and demand of global energy. The current method of energy supply in Taiwan is through a centralized electronic power system, which is generated by a few large electronic power plants. Hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) has a characteristic of de-centralized electronic power supply system, which provides electronic power more reliably, efficiently and economically. Based on the output of Taiwan’s sewage, sludge, kitchen waste and biohydrogen technology, the preliminary market for biohydrogen fuel cell (BHFC) is positioning itself toward the supply of public electronic power within the housing communities. Based on the patent analysis of BHFC, this study finds that Taiwan pays more attention to the front-end manufacturing of raw materials and emphasizes the development of biohydrogen technology, while America and Japan mainly pay more attentions to rear-end product application and emphasize the application of hydrogen and fuel cells by integrating industrial opinions. Based on the market analysis of BHFC, this study finds that the product attributes, consumers’ characteristics and external variables strongly influence consumer’s purchase intention of biohydrogen technology products.

► The patents of hydrogen and fuel cells in Taiwan, Japan and America are analyzed in this study. ► The results show that Taiwan pays more attention to the front-end manufacturing of raw materials of BHFC. ► America and Japan mainly pay more attentions to rear-end product application of BHFC. ► This study also finds that consumer's characteristics strongly influence consumer's purchase intention of BHFC products.