Are Critical Minerals Required to Produce Green Hydrogen?

Why critical minerals won’t stop the Green Hydrogen Revolution: Market research insights show their impact on production

Here’s an article posted in Energy Monitor.

According to the article,

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• Critical minerals, such as platinum, iridium, and ruthenium, are used in small quantities in green hydrogen production, and alternatives are being developed.
• Recycling and substitution of critical minerals can reduce their demand and ensure a sustainable supply.
• The market for green hydrogen is expected to grow rapidly, creating new opportunities for critical mineral producers and suppliers.

Several methods are being developed or explored to reduce the reliance on critical minerals in green hydrogen production:

1. Recycling and Substitution: Recycling and substituting critical minerals can reduce their demand and ensure a sustainable supply. This approach involves recovering critical minerals from waste materials and using alternative materials in their place.
   
2. Saline Solution-Based Method: Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a method to recover critical minerals like manganese, magnesium, dysprosium, and neodymium from spent electronics and mining waste using a simple mixed-salt water-based solution. This method can efficiently separate and purify these minerals, potentially reducing the need for critical minerals.
   
3. Alternative Materials: The development of alternative materials and technologies can help mitigate the reliance on critical minerals. For instance, researchers are exploring the use of non-precious metals and other materials to reduce the need for platinum group metals in green hydrogen production.
   
4. Economical Recovery from E-Waste: The method developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory can also be used to recover manganese from seawater and mining waste, which could provide a new source of this critical mineral.

These methods aim to address the challenges posed by critical minerals in the green hydrogen revolution, ensuring a more sustainable and efficient supply chain for this clean energy technology.