Capacities for hydrogen generation by means of PEM electrolysis are skyrocketing, as the world is witnessing an unprecedented momentum behind the formation of a hydrogen economy. Around 70GW capacity of PEM electrolysis has been announced for 2030 and the figure is rising1.
But will we really be able to produce those gigantic capacities more or less from scratch? One obstacle is the availability of raw materials. All available electrolyser technologies are requiring materials that are scarce, and for PEM EL (Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis) the most scarce material is iridium.
Will this be a bottleneck for the ramp up? The answer is no, if iridium consumption by PEM electrolysis is further reduced by means of thrifting.
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