Iridium shortage threatens hydrogen industry, warns German Council

The anticipated scarcity of iridium, a crucial catalyst component in electrolysis, could impede the progress of the hydrogen industry, Germany's National Hydrogen Council has cautioned in a paper, urging measures to tackle this concern.

The paper issued on Tuesday highlights that the production volume of iridium, used in both PEM and alkaline electrolysis, cannot be increased in the next few years while demand is expected to rise significantly. Achieving one gigawatt of PEM electrolysis capacity with current technology requires about 300-400 kg of iridium. Considering that PEM electrolysis is expected to account for 40% of all 170 GW electrolysis capacity planned to be in operation in 2030 globally, it would result in an estimated 27 tonnes of iridium needed by the end of the decade.

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The Council concludes that with the current levels of extraction and recycling of iridium, this demand cannot be met in the medium term. As the quantities currently produced are used in other applications such as medical technology, chemical catalysts, electronics industry and others, the amount of iridium available for PEM electrolysis is estimated to be around 12 tonnes by 2030. This is likely to result in a significant price increase and distribution constraints, which could delay the targeted ramp-up of the global hydrogen market.

The experts at the National Hydrogen Council call for finding other solutions to address the expected shortage. These include increasing recycling capacities while reducing the need for iridium in the electrolysis system. In addition, alternative electrolyser concepts should be further developed.