Plug Power, Inc. (PLUG) shares climbed Thursday, catching a lift from encouraging news elsewhere in the clean energy sector. When competitor FuelCell Energy reported better-than-expected earnings Thursday morning, it sparked optimism across the hydrogen fuel space.

FuelCell's results came in ahead of Wall Street estimates, posting $55.02 million in revenue and a loss of 83 cents per share. Not exactly blockbuster profit territory, but the beat was enough to get investors excited about the sector's trajectory.

The enthusiasm makes sense when you consider what's happening in the green hydrogen world. Locally generated hydrogen is starting to power real infrastructure—think hydrogen-powered trucks, port and rail equipment, and small ships operating through places like the Port of Walvis Bay. Some vehicles are even being converted on-site to run on dual-fuel systems using both hydrogen and conventional fuel. It's the kind of practical implementation that suggests green hydrogen is edging closer to genuine commercialization rather than just staying a futuristic concept.

For Plug Power, analysts are holding steady with a neutral stance, keeping the stock at a hold rating. The stock has bounced around considerably over the past year, trading between $0.69 and $4.58.

PLUG Price Action: Plug Power shares were up 6.94%, trading at $2.31 at the time of publication.