铱资源是否足以支撑未来氢能经济的发展

Will there be enough iridium to meet demand from the hydrogen economy

铱在氢能经济中的主要角色是和铂金一起作为质子交换膜电解水制氢反应的催化剂。目前铱在质子交换膜电解水制氢领域的消费量为每年几百千克。预计到2030年,用于质子交换膜电解水制氢的铱年需求量将达到1 t。如果质子交换膜电解水制氢产能大幅增长,铱的用量也会相应增加,而且铱在其他工业领域未来可能也会带来需求增长。估计铱的地质储量约3000 t,每年铱的矿产量约为7 t,铱的可获得性不会成为未来大规模制取绿氢的限制因素。

Iridium’s main role in the hydrogen economy is alongside platinum as a catalyst in proton exchange membrane(PEM)electrolysis.PEM electrolysis accounts for several hundred kg of iridium demand per year today.On the basis that PGM loadings will fall heavily from today’s level,we think it would be reasonable to expect annual iridium demand from PEM electrolysis to be somewhere up to 1 tonne per year in 2030.Iridium usage may increase if the capacity of hydrogen from PEM electrolysis increases significantly,and the demand for iridium in other industrial areas is likely to grow in the future.It is estimated that iridium reserves are about 3,000 tons,and primary iridium production is about 7 tons per year.It is expected that iridium availability will not be a limiting factor in the future development of green hydrogen production.