Deep dive on critical raw materials for hydrogen technologies in the EU

Deep dive on critical raw materials for hydrogen technologies in the EU / JRC 2026

ID 27352 | 22 Ottobre 2026

This report assesses the exposure of the European Union to critical raw material supply risk in the water electrolyser and fuel cell value chains. It maps the supply chain of five key materials (iridium, platinum, titanium, nickel and zirconium) from extraction through processing, component manufacturing and system assembly, and projects gross material demand to 2050 under two scenarios differing in the intensity of technological innovation. 

Projected demands are compared against current global production. Of the five materials assessed, only the two platinum group metals (iridium and platinum) are found likely to experience a supply bottleneck which could potentially limit the deployment of hydrogen technologies at the projected levels.

EU iridium demand for PEM electrolysers could exceed a third of global supply already by 2030 and global demand by 2050 could exceed 225 % of today’s global supply.

Global platinum demand, driven mainly by fuel cell electric vehicles, could reach almost 200 % of current mine production by 2050. EU demand for titanium remains below 1 % of global supply, and nickel and zirconium EU needs do not reach 1 % of global supply throughout.

Criticality assessed at material level does not, however, capture the full picture, as single-supplier positions at the component stage are not visible in raw material statistics. Circularity measures are identified as the most effective mitigation available without changes to system design or operating conditions, although secondary supply becomes significant only after 2035.
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	Descrizione	Lingua	Dimensioni	Downloads
	Deep dive on critical raw materials for hydrogen technologies in the EU JRC 2026	EN	5036 kB	6