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?
