No green hydrogen without electrolysis, no electrolyser without precious metals. Iridium and platinum serve as catalysts that set the chemical process of water electrolysis in motion in the first place – so that hydrogen is produced in the end. Heraeus Precious Metals in Hanau founded the Hydrogen Systems business line at the beginning of the year, headed by Philipp Walter. In the interview, he explains what is known as thrifting: the constant search for efficiency in order to optimise the use of precious metals. Recycling also plays an important role when it comes to securing the resource base for the production of green hydrogen. Take iridium, for example: Europe has no deposits of its own and 90 per cent of production currently comes from South Africa.
