Turning clean energy into cleaner industries: How HydoTech is helping shape the future of green hydrogen
When Dr. Changsheng Yao looks at a wind turbine or a solar farm, he sees more than a source of electricity. He sees an opportunity to decarbonize some of the world's most polluting industries.
That vision led him to start HydoTech.
After earning a Ph.D. in power engineering from Tsinghua University and spending more than a decade working in the energy sector, Dr. Yao became convinced that renewable energy could do more than power homes and electric vehicles. He wanted to turn clean electricity into green hydrogen - a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuel-based hydrogen.
The need for cleaner hydrogen is growing rapidly. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the world uses more than 100 million tons of hydrogen every year, yet less than one percent is produced using methods with low emissions1.
At the same time, sectors such as steelmaking, shipping and aviation are searching for cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels to reduce their carbon emissions. However, renewable energy from wind and solar is not always available when it is needed, making it difficult to produce green hydrogen consistently and at scale.
To solve the problem, HydoTech developed hydrogen production systems that can adapt to changing supplies of renewable electricity, making green hydrogen production more efficient and reliable.
What started as an idea has grown into a company delivering real-world impact. Today, HydoTech has installed more than 700 MW of hydrogen production capacity2. In addition, the company has completed over 20 large-scale projects, and works with global energy companies including Shell, TotalEnergies, Sinopec and Saudi Aramco. Its technology is helping customers across China, Europe and the Middle East make better use of renewable energy.
Protecting innovation for global growth
As HydoTech expanded beyond China, Dr. Yao realized that protecting its innovations was important.
“Intellectual property (IP) serves not only as a shield to protect innovative achievements,” says Dr. Yao. “It is also a passport to enter the international market.”
To strengthen its IP strategy, HydoTech joined the WIPO Intellectual Property Management Clinic (IPMC) in 2024. The Beijing edition of the program was organized by WIPO and Bluetech Clean Air Alliance, with the support of the Beijing Intellectual Property Office. Through tailored one-to-one coaching with IP expert Omer Hizir of Azur Strategy HydoTech reviewed its IP portfolio, mapped its existing IP assets and developed a roadmap for protecting both its technology and its brand as it entered new markets.
The guidance helped Dr. Yao make greater use of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) to protect HydoTech’s inventions abroad and the Madrid System to secure its brand in multiple countries through a single application. They quickly put these recommendations into practice by filing international patent applications for its core technologies and registering its trademarks across key overseas markets, including Europe and the Middle East.
Over the years, HydoTech has built a strong IP portfolio that today includes more than 90 patents, over 40 registered trademarks and multiple software copyrights, strengthening its competitive position and supporting its international growth.
Looking ahead
For Dr. Yao and his team, the mission has remained the same: making green hydrogen a practical solution for industries around the world.
As HydoTech continues to expand, the company aims to help build the infrastructure needed for the transition to cleaner energy by bringing green hydrogen to more countries, working with more international partners and helping industries reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.