The race to make green hydrogen economically viable just crossed a major finish line. California Catalysts (Calicat), a pioneer in electrocatalyst innovation, announced this week that its third-generation Amplifier catalyst has achieved an unprecedented activity milestone: operating at over 2 Volts with a current density exceeding 2 A/cm²—all without using a single gram of iridium. This breakthrough, verified in independent testing, represents a long-sought step change in the pursuit of cost-effective green hydrogen production, addressing one of the most stubborn barriers to scaling up proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis.
At the heart of the challenge is iridium, a rare and expensive platinum-group metal essential for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in PEM electrolysis. Current catalysts rely heavily on iridium, which can account for up to 50% of the stack cost in some systems. Calicat’s Amplifier catalyst replaces iridium with a proprietary, earth-abundant material, slashing material costs while maintaining—or even exceeding—the performance of traditional iridium-based catalysts. “This is the first time a zero-iridium catalyst has demonstrated such high activity and stability at industrially relevant conditions,” said Dr. Simon Trudel, a materials scientist at the National Research Council of Canada and a leading voice in electrocatalysis. “It’s not just an incremental improvement; it’s a paradigm shift for the industry.”
The implications are profound. PEM electrolysis is favored for its dynamic response and high efficiency, making it ideal for coupling with intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar. However, the high cost and limited supply of iridium have constrained deployment at scale. Calicat’s innovation could unlock gigawatt-scale green hydrogen projects, making them competitive with fossil fuel-derived hydrogen. The company’s internal projections suggest that, at scale, the Amplifier catalyst could reduce the levelized cost of green hydrogen by up to 30%, bringing it within striking distance of the US Department of Energy’s $1/kg target.
This advancement comes at a critical juncture. The global green hydrogen market is poised for explosive growth, with projections indicating a tenfold increase in capacity by 2030. Yet, without breakthroughs in catalyst technology, supply chain bottlenecks and cost pressures threatened to stall progress. Calicat’s zero-iridium solution not only removes a key material constraint but also aligns with broader industry efforts to localize and diversify supply chains. “We’re not just replacing iridium; we’re redefining what’s possible in electrocatalysis,” said Calicat CEO Dr. Katherine Ayers. “This is about making green hydrogen accessible, scalable, and truly sustainable.”
For policymakers and industry leaders, the message is clear: the technical barriers to a hydrogen economy are falling faster than expected. With catalysts like Calicat’s Amplifier, the path to cost-competitive green hydrogen is now a matter of deployment, not discovery. The challenge ahead lies in rapidly scaling manufacturing, securing project financing, and integrating these technologies into global energy systems. As Dr. Trudel notes, “The science is ready. Now, it’s time for the world to catch up.”