Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell for Renewable Integration Patent Landscape
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell for Renewable Integration Patent Landscape in 2026
The molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) renewable integration field has reached a mature phase, with annual filings plateauing near their 2021 peak and activity concentrated among a relatively small group of North American and Korean applicants. Proton Power Inc holds the lead position, and the corpus shows emerging white space in grid-integration and gas-separation branches that incumbent leaders have not yet fully addressed.
Proton Power Inc leads a moderately concentrated field with clear tier gaps
Proton Power Inc ranks first with 29 patent records, followed by Qusir Tech at 23 and Amogy Inc at 19. The top five filers together account for 22% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, indicating moderate — not overwhelming — concentration.
A visible tier gap separates the top three applicants from a mid-tier cluster (Claire Technologies Corp, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, FuelSell Tech, Claire Technologies Licensing LLC, Bloom Energy Corp, MFG & Tech Conversion Int) each holding 12–14 patent records. Below that, a long tail of smaller players and individual inventors further distributes the landscape.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proton Power Inc | 29 | |
| 2 | Qusir Tech | 23 | |
| 3 | Amogy Inc | 19 | |
| 4 | Claire Technologies Corp | 14 | |
| 5 | KOREA INST OF MACHINERY & MATERIALS | 14 | |
| 6 | FuelSell Tech | 12 | |
| 7 | Claire Technologies Licensing LLC | 12 | |
| 8 | Bloom Energy Corporation | 12 | |
| 9 | MFG & TECH CONVERSION INT | 12 | |
| 10 | Kyungdong Navien Co Ltd | 11 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV | 10 | |
| 12 | ZTEK Corporation | 10 | |
| 13 | Carbon Energy Inc | 10 | |
| 14 | FuelCell Energy Inc | 9 | |
| 15 | POSCO Energy Co Ltd | 9 | |
| 16 | Shell Oil Co | 9 | |
| 17 | Bowie G. Keefer | 8 | |
| 18 | Scott D. Redmond | 8 | |
| 19 | Electric Energy Express Corp | 8 | |
| 20 | Helion | 8 |
The leading applicants’ positions imply that no single incumbent has achieved dominant lock-in. The moderate top-5 share leaves room for focused challengers, particularly those targeting under-addressed technology branches. The. United States is the primary filing jurisdiction, accounting for 154 patent records, suggesting that U. S. market protection is the principal commercial priority.
Filings from the most recent 18–24 months are subject to publication lag and should be treated as under-counted; the apparent softening in 2024–2025 does not necessarily reflect reduced inventive activity. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Activity peaked in 2021 and has plateaued; fuel-cell and inorganic chemistry classes dominate the technology mix
The annual filing trend reveals a field that surged from 2019 to 2021 and has since plateaued, while the IPC composition shows that core electrochemical and inorganic-chemistry classes remain dominant, with several adjacent branches receiving comparatively sparse attention.
Annual filing trend
Filings rose sharply from 4 records in 2019 to a peak of 52 in 2021, then eased to 33 in 2022 and partially recovered to 44 in 2023. The 2024 and 2025 counts (25 and 16, respectively) are likely understated due to publication lag and should not be read as a sustained decline. The multi-year window still reflects a field substantially more active than its pre-2020 baseline.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
H01M (batteries, cells & fuel cells) is the dominant class by a wide margin, reflecting core MCFC stack and system patents. C01B (non-metallic elements & inorganic compounds) and C25B (electrolytic production of compounds) form a secondary cluster tied to hydrogen production and reforming chemistry. H02J (power supply & grid systems), B01D (separation processes), and B01J (chemical/physical processes & catalysis) are each present at a lower share, pointing to meaningful but underdeveloped integration with grid and gas-processing technologies.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Gas separation for molten carbonate fuel cell
An electrical current generating system is disclosed that includes a molten carbonate fuel cell, a hydrogen gas separation system or oxygen gas delivery system that includes a compressor or pump, and a drive system for the compressor or pump that includes means for recovering energy from at least one of the hydrogen gas separation system, oxygen gas… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
Open this patent in Eureka →| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | In situ production of synthesis gas from a hydroca… | 305 |
| 2 | High temperature fuel cell power plant | 267 |
| 3 | Energy efficient gas separation for fuel cells | 204 |
| 4 | High temperature fuel cell power plant | 203 |
| 5 | Method of optimizing operating efficiency of fuel … | 187 |
| 6 | Hydrogen storage, distribution, and recovery system | 183 |
| 7 | Hydrogen storage, distribution, and recovery system | 172 |
| 8 | System integration of a steam reformer and fuel cell | 144 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the competitive structure means for R&D investment decisions
The landscape’s maturity, moderate concentration, and identifiable technology gaps together shape the risk-return profile for new entrants and incumbents alike. The four dimensions below summarize the key strategic signals.
Field is mature, with annual volume plateauing near its 2021 peak
The lifecycle assessment classifies this field as Maturity, with annual filings having plateaued near their 2021 peak of 52 patent records. A recent-window growth rate of 1% confirms the field is still expanding on a multi-year basis, but the sharp post-2021 leveling signals that the most obvious technology claims are already occupied. New entrants should target differentiated sub-problems rather than core MCFC stack architecture.
Mature fieldModerate concentration leaves room for focused challengers
The top five filers hold 22% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total — enough to signal established positions, but insufficient to foreclose competition. The tier structure (a top-3 leader group, a mid-tier cluster of roughly equal players, and a long individual-inventor tail) suggests the field is contestable. A challenger with a differentiated technical approach in a sparse branch could establish a credible position without confronting entrenched blocking portfolios.
ContestableCo-filing is rare; Shell entities and Claire Technologies are the only documented pairs
Only two co-applicant relationships appear in the evidence: Claire Technologies Corp and Claire Technologies Licensing LLC (3 joint records) and Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV with its Canadian affiliate (3 joint records). These pairings represent intra-corporate IP structuring rather than cross-industry collaboration. The near-absence of university-industry or cross-sector co-filings suggests that open innovation and consortium-based development remain largely unexplored in this space.
Low collaborationU.S.-centric filings; European and PCT coverage secondary
The United States leads all jurisdictions with 154 patent records, followed by Europe via the EPO at 80 and WIPO PCT at 68. Australia and Canada are the next most covered markets. China, despite its scale in energy deployment, registers only 15 patent records, and South Korea — home to several ranked applicants — shows only 2. This geographic skew suggests that non-U.S. markets, particularly Asia-Pacific, may offer lower freedom-to-operate barriers for new market entrants.
U.S.-ledGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Claire Technologies Corp | Claire Technologies Licensing LLC | 3 |
| Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV | Shell Canada Ltd | 3 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Proton Power Inc leads on volume; Amogy Inc is the field’s fastest-moving new entrant
The top two highlighted applicants illustrate contrasting trajectories: an established volume leader focused on hydrogen reforming chemistry and a rapidly growing new entrant with a strong fuel-cell and catalysis portfolio.
Proton Power Inc
Proton Power Inc holds the largest portfolio in scope at 29 patent records. Its technology focus centers on C01B3 (hydrogen and related inorganic compounds) and B01J chemical/physical process classes, reflecting a strategy anchored in fuel reforming and hydrogen supply for MCFC systems. Momentum data is not available for Proton Power Inc directly in the trend evidence, but its accumulated volume places it ahead of all other single applicants in this corpus.
patent records: 29Amogy Inc
Amogy Inc ranks third with 19 patent records and is classified as a new entrant in momentum terms, meaning its recent three-year filing activity represents a fresh acceleration from a near-zero prior base. Its technology profile spans C01B3 (hydrogen compounds), B01J23 (catalysis), and H01M8 (fuel cell systems), indicating a broad systems approach rather than a single-point focus. This combination of rapid growth and multi-branch coverage makes Amogy Inc the clearest emerging challenger to watch.
patent records: 19| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Claire Technologies Corp | 10 | ▼ -37% |
| Amogy Inc | 18 | ▲ new entrant |
Grid integration and gas-separation branches are under-served relative to core fuel-cell classes
Several IPC branches adjacent to the dominant H01M core receive comparatively sparse coverage in this corpus. Two stand out for their plausible technical relevance to MCFC-renewable coupling and the relatively low incumbent density they present.
H02J · Power supply & grid systems
H02J accounts for only 41 patent records — the same share as B01J — despite grid integration being a central value proposition of MCFC systems in renewable contexts. MCFC plants producing both power and CO2 for carbon capture require sophisticated power electronics and grid-coupling architectures; the sparse patent activity in H02J suggests this interface layer is not yet well-claimed. Applicants with power-electronics or microgrid expertise could find relatively open ground here, particularly for islanding, frequency response, and hybrid renewable-MCFC dispatch control.
Search this in Eureka →B01D · Separation processes (filtration etc.)
B01D (separation processes, including gas membranes and filtration) holds 45 patent records — the largest of the white-space branches identified — yet remains at a 4% share relative to the dominant H01M class. MCFC systems used for carbon capture from industrial flue gas require upstream and downstream separation steps that are not adequately covered by existing core fuel-cell patents. The combination of low incumbent density in B01D and the growing industrial interest in MCFC-based CO2 separation makes this an adjacent branch with a technically credible entry path for specialists in membrane and gas-separation technology.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ by technology route
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | H01M 8 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | C01B 3 · Non-metallic elements & inorganic compounds | C25B 1 · Electrolytic production of compounds | C25B 15 · Electrolytic production of compounds | C25B 9 · Electrolytic production of compounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claire Technologies Corp | Strong · 18 | Strong · 15 | Moderate · 7 | Absent | Absent |
| Explore Air Technologies Co. | Strong · 28 | Moderate · 10 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| FuelSell Tech | Strong · 11 | Strong · 11 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Carbon Energy Inc | Strong · 10 | Absent | Moderate · 5 | Moderate · 5 | Absent |
| Proton Power Inc | Absent | Strong · 20 | Absent | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus in scope contains 243 patent families. The United States is the primary filing jurisdiction with 154 patent records, followed by the EPO at 80 and WIPO PCT at 68.
Proton Power Inc leads with 29 patent records, followed by Qusir Tech at 23 and Amogy Inc at 19. The top five filers together account for 22% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total.
The field is classified as Maturity. Annual filings peaked at 52 records in 2021 and have since plateaued. The multi-year window still shows a positive growth rate of 1%, but the sharp post-peak leveling indicates that the most accessible invention opportunities in core MCFC architecture are already addressed.
H01M (batteries, cells & fuel cells) is the dominant class by a wide margin. C01B (non-metallic elements & inorganic compounds) and C25B (electrolytic production) form a secondary cluster. H02J (power supply & grid systems) and B01D (separation processes) are comparatively sparse at 41 and 45 patent records respectively, despite their direct relevance to MCFC-renewable integration and carbon capture applications.
Documented co-applicant activity is very limited. Only two pairs appear in the evidence: Claire Technologies Corp with Claire Technologies Licensing LLC (3 joint records) and Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij BV with its Canadian affiliate (3 joint records). Both reflect intra-corporate IP structuring rather than open cross-sector collaboration.
Amogy Inc is classified as a new entrant in momentum terms, meaning its recent filing activity represents a sharp acceleration from a near-zero prior base, bringing it to 19 patent records and third overall in the ranking. Claire Technologies Corp shows a downward trend of approximately 37% in recent filings relative to the prior period.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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