Circular Economy Strategies for Clean Hydrogen Technologies

Clean hydrogen produced from water electrolysis and powered by renewable electricity is expected to play a critical role in achieving decarbonization goals. Recovery and recycling of the valuable materials contained within electrolyzers and fuel cells will be essential to maintain a resilient supply chain and mitigate environmental impacts. However, research into circular economy strategies for clean hydrogen production lags behind other renewable energy technologies such as lithium-ion batteries or photovoltaics. This quantitative analysis maps electrolyzer and fuel cell components to emerging recycling techniques such as pyrometallurgy and acid- or organic solvent-based recovery. The recycling options are then assessed and compared across environmental impacts, costs, and technical capabilities (e.g., recovery yields). This critical analysis lays crucial groundwork for the development of a circular economy for hydrogen technologies.