Iridium and the Green Hydrogen Economy

As the global push towards sustainable energy accelerates, green hydrogen has emerged as a cornerstone of the future energy landscape. However, this promising trajectory faces a significant hurdle: the scarcity of Iridium, which is today a critical component of PEM electrolysers. At Enapter, we are not only aware of these challenges but have also pioneered an electrolysis solution that doesn’t rely on this extremely rare and expensive metal.

Introducing Iridium

Discovered in 1803 by Smithson Tennant, Iridium was named after the Greek goddess Iris, the personification of the rainbow, because of its striking and diverse colours.

This element, with the atomic number 77, is found in the Earth’s crust but in a much higher abundance in meteorites. The unusually high abundance of Iridium in the clay layer gave also rise to the so-called Alvarez hypothesis stating the impact of a massive extraterrestrial object caused the extinction of dinosaurs and many other species 66 million years ago.

Today, Iridium is about 40x rarer than gold, making it one of the most expensive metals with a current price of around € 153 200 per kg¹.

The total yearly production of Iridium is only around 8-9 tons due to the fact that commercially it’s only produced as a by-product of nickel and copper production. Being 1.5x harder than steel is one of its main characteristics, and it’s also the densest element after Osmium. Furthermore, it doesn’t oxidise in air below 2 000° C and is not soluble, neither in acids nor aqua regia.

This resistance to heat and corrosion makes it an important component for products like white OLEDs and the ignition tips of spark plugs – but also for the anode catalysts of PEM electrolysers.

The Iridium Dilemma

Green Hydrogen and electrolysers to produce it are crucial to accomplish the energy transition. In Europe alone, min. 40 GW of electrolysis capacity are planned to be installed by 2030², while IRENA is forecasting a potential installed base of more than 5 700 gigawatts globally by 2050³.

However, the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysis process, which is one of the key methods for producing green hydrogen, relies on the production of Iridium, and the global supply could currently only cover max. 30 GW of PEM Electrolyser production capacity – even assuming that the Iridium would only be used in the hydrogen sector.

Following a study of German Raw Materials Agency (DENRA) the global Iridium demand could already increase to up to 34 tons annually by 2040⁵.

As demand for hydrogen production scales up, concerns about Iridium scarcity have grown. Industry experts warn that a surge in demand, without alternative solutions, could lead to significant supply bottlenecks and skyrocketing costs, potentially slowing down the green hydrogen ramp-up.

While PEM electrolyser producers are working to minimise the amount of Iridium they use, test alternatives and implement recycling recovery initiatives, it remains unclear if and to what extent they will be able to avoid the Iridium supply bottleneck.
But there are other solutions.

Iridium-Free Solutions

Traditional alkaline electrolysers don’t use Iridium, but currently they are less able to cope with the load changes and the dynamics of renewable energy from wind and solar power. Likewise, AEM electrolysis doesn’t need any Iridium – but in contrast to alkaline electrolysis, it boasts high flexibility in producing hydrogen from intermittent renewables.

This is where Enapter comes into play: Our proprietary Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolysers offer an attractive hydrogen production process with no need for Iridium – not only circumventing the supply chain issues but also offering a more cost-effective and scalable solution for growing green hydrogen production. The absence of Iridium in our AEM technology provides Enapter with a decisive competitive edge.

It mitigates the risks associated with raw material shortages and price volatility, ensuring that our systems remain affordable and accessible even as global hydrogen demand grows. Moreover, it aligns with global efforts to reduce dependence on critical raw materials, contributing to the resilience of the hydrogen economy.

The Road Ahead

As the world increasingly turns to hydrogen as a key component of the energy transition, the ability to produce it sustainably and at scale is crucial. Enapter’s Iridium-free approach not only addresses the immediate challenges posed by material scarcity but also positions us as a pioneer in the ongoing evolution of hydrogen technology.

We are committed to driving innovation that supports the global shift towards renewable energy, ensuring that the hydrogen economy can thrive without being hindered by resource limitations.
While the scarcity of Iridium poses a significant challenge to the hydrogen economy, Enapter’s technology offers a clear path forward.

By removing Iridium from the equation, we are making green hydrogen production more sustainable, affordable and scalable today, ensuring that the energy transition remains on track for success.

For further insights on iridium-free green hydrogen production solutions, read more about AEM Electrolysis technology or contact our team to get started with your Iridium-free green hydrogen project soon.

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1. as of August 13 2024: https://pmm.umicore.com/en/prices/iridium/ ↩︎
2. https://www.horvath-partners.com/de/media-center/artikel/eu-wasserstoffstrategie-das-potenzial-von-gruenem-wasserstoff-fuer-die-energiewende ↩︎
3. https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/green_hydrogen_e.pdf, Page 8 ↩︎
4. https://www.heraeus.com/en/hpm/hmp_products_solutions/hydrogensystems/hydrogen_generation/hydrogen_generation.html and https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/maerkte/devisen-rohstoffe/energiewende-iridium-knappheit-koennte-wasserstoff-ausbau-bremsen/29352898.html
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5. https://www.deutsche-rohstoffagentur.de/DE/Gemeinsames/Produkte/Downloads/DERA_Rohstoffinformationen/rohstoffinformationen-50.pdf, Page 183 ↩︎