Tackling iridium scarcity in hydrogen generation

Many champion hydrogen as the key to decarbonization, praising its potential to drive a cleaner future. But its reliance on finite resources poses challenges to long-term viability. In fact, one of the major issues facing the hydrogen industry is the use of scarce materials, like iridium. Addressing this challenge is crucial—not only to secure hydrogen’s future as a clean energy source but also to understand why iridium is so difficult to replace.

As the demand for renewable hydrogen rises, the strain on the iridium supply continues. To ensure long-term sustainability, those in the industry must quickly implement existing solutions. Not only to reduce iridium dependency, but to preserve hydrogen's role as a clean energy source. Which raises an important question: what makes iridium essential to hydrogen production, and what makes reduction such a challenge?

The case of iridium

Iridium is a hard, brittle, and corrosion-resistant element belonging to the platinum metal group. Though rare in the Earth’s crust, iridium’s unique properties make it irreplaceable in high-tech applications, including hydrogen production. In the case of PEM electrolyzers, iridium plays a key role in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the process responsible for splitting water molecules to produce hydrogen. Its exceptional resistance to oxidation and high catalytic efficiency makes it the preferred choice for anodes in electrolyzer stacks. However, its rarity and impact on the environment pose significant challenges to the hydrogen industry and beyond.

Hi-Res Images of Chemical Elements, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Despite its advantages, our reliance on iridium presents both economic and environmental concerns. As one of the scarcest elements on Earth, iridium’s limited supply drives up costs, making hydrogen generation, for example, more expensive. But the growing push for sustainable energy continues increasing demand for PEM electrolyzers, further exacerbating the strain on iridium supply chains. Yet, if hydrogen is to remain a viable path to decarbonization, iridium reduction is beyond essential for ensuring long-term affordability, accessibility, and scalability.

Innovative collaboration

Leading companies in the hydrogen sector are actively seeking solutions to lessen our reliance on iridium. One development from Toshiba significantly reduces the amount of iridium needed in PEM electrolyzers. Their anode production technology enhances catalyst efficiency, thereby lowering material costs, while also maintaining high electrolyzer performance.

Close collaboration between industry leaders is crucial to shaping the future of not only hydrogen but iridium optimization as well. Bekaert, a key player in hydrogen generation technology, has partnered with Toshiba to further develop and scale this MEA technology. As a manufacturer of titanium porous transport layers (PTLs), Bekaert plays a crucial role in enabling high-performance hydrogen production with reduced iridium content.

The future of hydrogen

While iridium has been crucial to the development of PEM electrolyzer technology, its scarcity raises questions surrounding long-term sustainability. Ultimately, the hydrogen industry has reached a point where innovation and material efficiency will dictate the future of clean energy. By developing alternative catalysts, improving electrode designs, and optimizing PTL technology, companies are paving the way for more cost-effective and sustainable hydrogen production.

Reducing iridium dependency is not just an economic necessity—it’s a step toward making hydrogen truly accessible as a global clean energy solution. As the industry continues to evolve, one thing is clear: the future of hydrogen relies not just on production capacity but also on smart material choices that ensure a scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy transition.

Want to stay on top of developments in hydrogen technology? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter today.