The corridors of mining power are abuzz with reports of quick steps being taken by China to introduce platinum-catalysed hydrogen fuel cells at scale.
Heavy fuel cell vehicles are being rapidly produced and the necessary hydrogen filling-station infrastructure is being provided, stimulated by 100% subsidisation and widespread leasing.
Last year saw 18 000 orders in six months for fuel cell buses and light delivery vehicles that ensure clean air and China’s fast pace is now pointing to fuel cells requiring 500 000 oz of platinum by 2025.
Photographs doing the rounds show the production of large numbers of fuel cell trucks, stimulated by 50% regional government subsidisation and 50% national government subsidisation.
Running parallel to what is happening in China is increasing fuel cell momentum in Japan, Germany and the US.
Last week, America’s Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association hosted the 2018 National Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Forum in Washington, where politicians were reminded of the zero emission advantage of fuel cells on a planet that is yearning for clean air.
In addition, this year’s Platinum Week, in London, put strong emphasis on the importance to platinum of these cells, which generate electricity by catalysing an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.
With safe, low-cost hydrogen solutions now there for the taking, far-reaching developments are taking place, even in South Africa, where a fuel cell dozer that runs on hydrogen carried in liquid is expected to make its game changing debut in an underground mine next year.
Fuel cells can put an end to air pollution more effectively than any other product, a point even moderately sized South Korean cities have taken to heart by establishing the necessary hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. This same message needs to be accepted by the mayors of cities the world over.
New developments are taking place with ongoing regularity. Last week, for instance, Nikola Motor Company of the US announced plans to develop a heavy-duty fuel cell truck, for which it has 10 000 advance orders, including one from brewing giant Anheuser-Busch. A month back, preorders for Hyundai’s Nexo fuel cell car exceeded expectations. Shortly before that, Honda launched its new 2018 Clarity fuel cell car. On other fronts, Doosan Fuel Cell America cut the ribbon on three stationary fuel cell power plants, electronic commerce company Amazon contracted Plug Power to deploy fuel cell forklifts for the company, which is already old hat at South Africa’s Impala Platinum, which has had fuel cell forklift operating successfully at its refinery in Springs for yonks.
All these developments are wonderful news for the long-term future of plati- num, demand for which is currently evenly divided between autocatalysis, jewellery and what is broadly termed industrial. Pleasingly, industrial demand is growing at the rate of world gross domestic product, driven largely by the chemicals, petroleum, speciality glass and speciality electronics industries.