The global installed renewable capacity reached new heights in 2025, as renewables accounted for the majority of the global power production in the first half of the year. Yet, some industries remain difficult to decarbonize, especially as green hydrogen remains expensive. However, Russia believes the real prize lies in South Africa and that it could slash costs for hydrogen, potentially making the world forget about lithium. Discover which rare metal could end up changing it all.
The endless search for affordable green hydrogen
One of the most versatile and cleanest forms of energy is green hydrogen, which is why it has become one of the most sought-after energy forms in the world. According to ScienceDirect.com, it plays a vital role in decarbonizing the following industries:
- Chemical feedstock
- Ammonia production for fertilizers
- Oil refining
- Heavy industry
- High-temperature industrial processes
- Long-haul transportation
- Airplanes, ships, trains, heavy-duty vehicles
However, not only is it one of the most sought-after energy forms for energy security and decarbonizing certain industries, but it is also one of the most expensive. According to Montel Energy, it is produced by utilising renewable energy sources to power water electrolysis, which has proven to be:
- Highly energy-intensive, and
- Requires expensive technology and infrastructure for storage and transportation, and
- Time consuming
For the latter, catalysts are used to accelerate the production process, and some researchers have been focusing on the use of lithium as a catalyst. Lithium is also being explored as a storage compound, particularly lithium hydride. Unfortunately, there are still significant challenges that are being faced, including:
- Difficulty recycling byproducts
- Difficulty controlling the reaction rate
Forget lithium, as Russia believes the real prize lies in South Africa
Another catalyst that has proven to be highly stable and is crucial for efficient green hydrogen production is, unfortunately, extremely scarce and thus also highly expensive. Breaking down the technical barriers for hydrogen is no easy feat, but Russia may have found a breakthrough. This extremely scarce metal, iridium, has been studied by an international team.
This team consists of researchers from the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Russia’s Southern Federal University, Kurchatov Institute, as well as their counterparts representing South Africa’s HySA program. Iridium is crucial in proton exchange membrane electrolyzers (PEMs), especially for operations in highly acidic environments.
One of their main areas of focus was the “catalyst activation stage.” The team found that adequate activation impacts iridium’s surface state and thus its efficiency. Varying activation methods result in varying metallic and oxidic combinations to form on the surface, which impacts:
- Reaction rate
- Catalyst stability
- Catalyst life
Another approach to making production more affordable
The researchers’ findings helped them to construct clear guidelines for the preparation and testing. For PEMs, it meant that the expenses of equipment could become more affordable without having to make drastic technological changes. Furthermore, the reliance on scarce materials for hydrogen production could significantly decrease.
Another approach to making production more affordable, less time-consuming, and more efficient was explored by Yukihiro Takahashi, a PhD candidate at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Nickel coating is needed for catalytic activity and corrosion protection. However, adequate control over electroplating is vital, as it could result in waste and make the process more expensive.
According to Takahashi, “complexing agents” would curb uncontrolled nickel growth, which results in more even and efficient coatings. His research particularly focused on uniform thickness, pH changes, and current efficiency. Research such as this is vital for a world that is becoming increasingly focused on the use of green hydrogen to ensure energy security, and a capacity booking framework for post-2026 has already been announced by hydrogen network operators.
