The global transition to a carbon-neutral economy presents significant challenges, particularly in the deployment of renewable energy and storage technologies. A key aspect of this transition is the production and use of green hydrogen. This depends on the deployment of electrolysers and fuel cells, requiring critical raw materials in their manufacturing processes. In the European Union (EU), these materials are imported and classified as ‘critical’ due to a lack of viable substitutes, supply risks, and geopolitical factors. This article explores the potential of circular economy strategies to enhance resource security and resilience in the hydrogen technology value chain. Using a qualitative case-study approach that includes a literature review, document analysis, and 29 expert interviews, we map the current circularity patterns and outline regulatory, cultural, economic, and technical drivers and barriers. We identify eighteen drivers and fourteen barriers, highlight the interdependencies among them, and propose targeted policy interventions, namely restrictions on waste exports containing platinum group metals, individual recycling targets for iridium, and eco-design standards for dismantling and repairing electrolysers. Our findings contribute to scholarly discussions on the circular economy as a resource resilience strategy and offer actionable insights for policymakers in the EU and beyond.

中文翻译：

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在氢能技术价值链中实现更大的循环性

全球向碳中和经济的过渡带来了重大挑战，特别是在可再生能源和存储技术的部署方面。这一转变的一个关键方面是绿色氢气的生产和使用。这取决于电解槽和燃料电池的部署，其制造过程中需要关键的原材料。在欧盟 （EU），由于缺乏可行的替代品、供应风险和地缘政治因素，这些材料被进口并被归类为“关键”材料。本文探讨了循环经济战略在增强氢能技术价值链中资源安全和弹性方面的潜力。我们采用定性案例研究方法，包括文献综述、文献分析和 29 次专家访谈，绘制了当前的循环模式，并概述了监管、文化、经济和技术驱动因素和障碍。我们确定了 18 个驱动因素和 14 个障碍，强调了它们之间的相互依赖性，并提出了有针对性的政策干预措施，即限制含铂族金属的废物出口、铱的个别回收目标以及拆解和修理电解槽的生态设计标准。我们的研究结果有助于将循环经济作为一种资源弹性战略进行学术讨论，并为欧盟及其他地区的政策制定者提供可行的见解。