H2U Technologies, an electrolyzer developer, announces the successful demonstration of the first non-iridium proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer for commercial H₂ production. At the end of 2022, H2U proved the efficacy of its non-iridium catalyst materials in small-scale electrolyzer stacks. Since then, the company has scaled this technology to a 200-kW electrolyzer system for in-house testing and demonstration. This significant achievement is a crucial step toward H2U's goals of alleviating iridium supply chain constraints on the growing electrolyzer industry and reducing the costs of green H₂ production.

Today, all commercially available PEM electrolyzers rely on iridium catalysts to function. As the electrolyzer industry grows, global iridium scarcity poses a serious threat to scale-up. In its most recent Global H2 Review publication, the International Energy Agency stated, "If PEMs supplied all electrolyzer production in 2030 in the net zero emissions scenario, demand for iridium would skyrocket to 63 kt, nine times current global production." H2U's electrolyzer presents a solution to this challenge by offering an alternative, iridium-free option.

During the in-house demonstration of its 200-kW iridium-free electrolyzer system, the H2U team is collecting operational data to further validate the durability and performance of novel non-iridium catalysts at the commercial scale. The company will apply those lessons learned to the design review and construction of their first external proof-of-concept units set to ship at the end of this year.

"This is a significant milestone for H2U on our path to solving a key problem facing the H₂ industry: the dependency on scarce and precious materials currently needed to make H₂. We and others believe H2U's non-iridium PEM electrolyzers have the potential to transform the green H₂ industry," said Mark McGough, CEO of H2U Technologies. "Our breakthrough technology will bring down gas production costs and alleviate supply chain constraints, making green H₂ more accessible and cost-effective for a wide range of applications."

"From a 200-W benchtop, short stack to a 200-kW full containerized system in less than eight months using catalysts never before seen in a PEM electrolyzer is a tremendous accomplishment. Now the world can see that there are easily integrated, direct-replacement electrocatalysts for the gigawatts of electrolyzers being planned across the world," noted David Martin, Chief Commercial Officer of H2U Technologies.