Top 20 Hydrogen Generation Companies, Worldwide 2023

The Hydrogen generation companies quadrant is a comprehensive industry analysis that provides valuable insights into the global market for Hydrogen generation. This quadrant offers a detailed evaluation of key market players, technological advancements, product innovations, and emerging trends shaping the industry. MarketsandMarkets 360 Quadrants evaluated over 60 Hydrogen generation companies of which the Top 20 Hydrogen generation Companies were categorised and recognized as the quadrant leaders.

Hydrogen in molecular form can be produced from different sources in distinct ways. Hydrogen gas has an excellent energy-carrying capacity. It can be produced in large quantities and supplied to largescale industries for various operations. It can be produced as a principal and by-product from various primary energy sources (such as wind, solar, coal, natural gas, and nuclear). Currently, hydrogen is produced in bulk for many value-added uses and chemical substances. It delivers power for various applications, including fuel cells and combined heat and power technologies.

The hydrogen generation market is defined as the sum of the revenue generated by companies producing hydrogen through various technologies such as electrolysis, steam methane reforming (SMR), partial oxidation (POX), and coal gasification.

The 360 Quadrant efficiently maps the Hydrogen generation companies based on criteria such as revenue, geographic presence, growth strategies, investments, channels of demand, and sales strategies for the market presence of the hydrogen generation quadrant. The top criteria for product footprint evaluation included Production Technologies (steam methane reforming (SMR), Partial Oxidation (POX), Goal Gasification and Electrolysis), Application (power generation, transportation, petroleum refinery, ammonia production, and methanol production), Source (grey hydrogen, blue hydrogen, and green hydrogen).

Key trends highlighted in 360 Quadrants:

• The market for hydrogen generation is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2022 to 2027, from an estimated USD 160,068 million in 2022 to USD 263,574 million in 2027.
• Infrared rays (net heat energy) from the earth's surface can be absorbed by greenhouse gases, which can then reradiate it to the surface and increase the greenhouse effect. Most notably because of industrialization and the usage of fossil fuels, there is an increase in global green gas emissions. Hydrogen Generation Companies are modifying their hydrogen generation portfolio to meet the demand of the industrial and agriculture industries. For instance, in September 2022, Linde built a 35-megawatt PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyzer at Niagara Falls, New York, to produce green hydrogen. Linde's new plant is the world's largest electrolyzer installation, and it will more than double Linde's green liquid hydrogen production capacity in the United States. The plant is scheduled to open in 2025.This is the first of several electrolyzers Linde plans to develop in the United States to meet the growing demand for green liquid hydrogen.
• SMR, or steam methane reforming, is a popular technology for producing hydrogen in large quantities. The market for SMR was at USD 72,636 million in 2021. The market was dominated by the methane reforming industry. In 2021, SMR will produce 50.7% of the hydrogen produced worldwide. Some of the Hydrogen generation companies in the domain include Linde, Air Liquide, Air Products, and others.
• Based on the source, the blue hydrogen market, which had a 2021 market value of USD 16,897 million, is anticipated to experience the highest CAGR of 11.5% over the projected period. Due to increasing demand for capturing, reusing, or storing carbon emissions is expected to drive the growth blue hydrogen market.
• A major aspect of creating development prospects for Hydrogen generation companies is increasing investments in emerging markets and less regulated countries. Due to the enormous expansion of transportation and power generation hydrogen generation is in great demand in rising economies in the Asia Pacific.
• Another primary reason driving the for-Hydrogen generation companies is the increased demand for developing and increasing the performance of hydrogen. Hydrogen generation companies are continuously introducing new products to meet the demand of customers. For instance, in March 2022, Air Liquide has received state funding to launch its Air Liquide Normand'Hy large scale renewable hydrogen production project, subject to final approval by the European Commission. This electrolyzer, with an initial capacity of 200 MW, will use Siemens Energy technology to produce renewable hydrogen to TotalEnergies' Normandy refinery. This project will considerably contribute to the development of a low-carbon hydrogen sector in France and Europe, as well as the decarbonization of the Normandy industrial basin. It also helps to advance heavy duty hydrogen mobility in this critical industrial sector.
• The Captive segment is expected to dominate in 2022, in terms of value, the expansion due to rising on-site hydrogen needs from ammonia manufacturing facilities and petroleum refineries.
• When it comes to applications that by 2027, the petroleum refinery segment is anticipated to reach USD 78,571 million, growing at the second highest CAGR of 7.8%. Depending on their internal value and availability, refineries are increasingly in need of feedstocks such natural gas, LPG, and light and heavy naphtha to manufacture hydrogen.
• Asia Pacific was the largest market for Hydrogen generation companies, accounting for 47% of the overall market in terms of volume, followed by North America and Europe in 2022, and it is expected to be the fastest-growing region during 2022 and 2027. Due to the region's stringent restrictions requiring the desulfurization of petroleum products and the preservation of a clean environment, there is an increasing need for hydrogen generation.
• This market is dominated by top five major Hydrogen generation companies Linde, Air liquid, Air Products, Siemens and Engie. These Hydrogen generation companies account for an approximate 9%-14% share of the overall hydrogen generation market.
• Companies are adopting various strategies for acquisitions, product launches, and contracts & agreements to increase their share in the market. Some of the Hydrogen Generation companies are focusing on launching new technologies and expanding their manufacturing unit and meet the rising purchasing power and disposable income in the emerging regions in the Asia Pacific and Europe region. For instance, In August 2021, Air Products opened its first hydrogen fuelling station in Shandong Province to serve China's "Hydrogen into Ten Thousand Homes" demonstration project and green mobility. throughout support of this national endeavour, the business has advanced many hydrogen production and application projects throughout the province. The "Hydrogen into Ten Thousand Homes" demonstration project is a high-level project launched by China's Ministry of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Shandong provincial government to promote the widespread use of hydrogen energy and demonstrate hydrogen applications in industrial parks, community buildings, and transportation to create a hydrogen-powered society. 
• Hydrogen Generation companies are also focused on building strategies to address the demand for the renewable energy. Cite an example, in 2022, Grimsby has been selected as the site for an innovative "marinised" electrolyzer project for renewable hydrogen production. The OYSTER project, financed by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), develops and demonstrates an electrolyser system designed to be connected with offshore wind turbines. The OYSTER project, led by ITM Power, Orsted, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, and Element Energy, is developing and testing a megawatt-scale, completely marinised electrolyser in a shoreside pilot experiment in Grimsby. The research also investigates the feasibility and possibility of directly connecting an offshore wind turbine to an electrolyzer and transferring renewable hydrogen to shore.
• Most of the Hydrogen generation companies are introducing innovative technologies, for reducing their carbon footprint and are exploring the use cases of renewable energy sources.  For instance, in February 2022, Linde has expanded its existing deal with Celanese Corporation to deliver carbon dioxide and hydrogen to the Celanese plant in Clear Lake, Texas. Linde now feeds the Clear Lake facility with oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide. Linde will now deliver carbon dioxide captured in its nearby carbon monoxide manufacturing unit under the conditions of the enlarged agreement. Celanese's Fairway Methanol LLC joint venture will use carbon dioxide + hydrogen as an alternative feedstock to manufacture methanol with a much lower carbon intensity. Linde's hydrogen will have a reduced carbon intensity due to the use of carbon dioxide captured from their facilities.
• The major Hydrogen generation companies in the hydrogen-generating industry are Siemens (Germany), Linde plc (UK), Air Liquide (France), Air Products Inc. (US), and Engie (France). The customer bases, service portfolios, technological prowess, and established geographical presence of these businesses are comparable assets. They collectively control a substantial chunk of the market. To prevent any loss in their respective market shares, the established firms have consistently adopted organic and inorganic expansion tactics. Hydrogen generation companies most frequently use contracts, agreements, product launches, and investments and expansions to ensure their market domination.