【SMM Analysis】Rare Earth & Magnesium - Solid-State Hydrogen Storage Technology in Different Scenarios: In-Depth Analysis of Application Paths and Domestic Enterprise Practices

Introduction Solid-state hydrogen storage technology is one of the core directions to break through the bottleneck of hydrogen storage and transportation. Rare earth-based materials (such as AB₅ type hydrogen storage alloys) and magnesium-based materials (such as MgH₂) form a complement in terms of power density, cost, and safety due to their material property differences. In April 2025, global breakthroughs in the industrialization of these two types of materials in the hydrogen energy field were frequent: The University of Science and Technology of China announced that the normal pressure hydrogen storage density of rare earth hydrogen storage tanks reached 7.2wt%, and ThyssenKrupp of Germany released a magnesium-based hydrogen storage system with a cycle life exceeding 500 times. This article, combining this week's industry dynamics, systematically sorts out the technical paths, scenario adaptability, and domestic enterprises' industrialization practices of the two types of materials, and discusses their collaborative development path. I. Rare Earth-Based Solid-State Hydrogen Storage: The "Cornerstone Technology" for High Power Density Scenarios 1. Technical Characteristics and Core Breakthroughs Rare earth-based hydrogen storage materials, represented by LaNi₅ and MmNi₅ (mixed rare earth nickel-based alloys), achieve hydrogen storage through metal hydride reactions. Their technical advantages include: High volumetric hydrogen storage density: Under normal pressure, it can reach 30-35kg/m³ (more than twice that of liquid hydrogen storage), suitable for space-limited scenarios such as passenger vehicles and drones. Wide temperature range stability: Operating temperature range -30℃~100℃, with excellent low-temperature cold start performance (hydrogen absorption completed within 5 minutes). Cycle life: Laboratory level exceeds 10,000 cycles (verified by Toyota's hydrogen heavy truck). Key Advances in April 2025: USTC New Rare Earth-Transition Metal Alloy: Using a CeCo₀.8Ni₀.2 composite system, the hydrogen storage density at 1MPa normal pressure reached 7.2wt%, with a cycle life exceeding 12,000 times, planned for use in the Shanghai Lingang hydrogen bus demonstration project. China Northern Rare Earth Low-Cost Mass Production Line: A production line for 50,000 sets of rare earth hydrogen storage tanks per year was launched in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, using Pr-Nd-based alloys (lanthanum and cerium content >60%), reducing the cost per tank by 40% compared to imported products. GRINM Group Rare Earth-Vanadium Composite Material: Developed a new alloy (V₀.3Ce₀.7), with a hydrogen storage density of 35kg/m³ under 5MPa pressure, suitable for hydrogen-powered ship propulsion systems. 2. Core Application Scenarios and Domestic Practices (1) Dynamic Hydrogen Supply for Fuel Cell Vehicles Technical Adaptability: Rare earth hydrogen storage tanks can meet the high-frequency start-stop requirements of fuel cell vehicles. For example, the Chinese hydrogen heavy truck "HydrogenTeng 3.0" equipped with a rare earth hydrogen storage module achieved an 800km driving range on the Ordos coal transportation line, with hydrogen consumption per 100km reduced by 12% compared to pure hydrogen systems. Latest Case: Shanghai Jieqing Technology and China Northern Rare Earth collaborated to integrate rare earth hydrogen storage tanks into hydrogen refueling station storage systems, compatible with 35MPa hydrogen refueling stations, targeting over 90% localization by 2026. (2) Distributed Power Generation Peak Shaving System Integration Solution: Rare earth hydrogen storage tanks integrated with fuel cells achieve bidirectional "hydrogen-electricity" conversion. Hyzon Motors of Germany launched a 50kW distributed power generation system, capable of stable power supply during peak grid load, with a cycle efficiency of 45%. Domestic Application: Weishi Energy introduced a rare earth hydrogen storage-fuel cell distributed power generation system, suitable for data center backup power scenarios, with response time shortened to 10 seconds. (3) Emergency Power and High-End Equipment Toshiba Solution: A rare earth hydrogen storage tank combined with a 5kW fuel cell forms a backup power source, already deployed in Tokyo data centers. Domestic Breakthrough: Zihuan Environmental developed a rare earth catalyst recycling technology, achieving a recovery rate of lanthanum and cerium >95% through hydrometallurgy, with costs 60% lower than virgin rare earths. II. Magnesium-Based Solid-State Hydrogen Storage: The "Disruptor" for Low-Cost Long-Duration Energy Storage 1. Technical Characteristics and Domestic Breakthroughs Magnesium-based hydrogen storage materials (such as MgH₂) store hydrogen through the reversible reaction of magnesium and hydrogen, with a theoretical hydrogen storage density of 7.6wt%, but slow kinetics (requiring high-temperature activation). The 2025 technological breakthroughs focus on: Nanostructure Modification: Through ball milling, magnesium particles are refined to below 50nm, reducing the hydrogen absorption temperature from 300℃ to 150℃ and increasing the hydrogen absorption rate threefold. Catalyst Optimization: ThyssenKrupp's Ti/Fe bimetallic catalyst increased the cycle life of MgH₂ from 300 to 500 cycles. Key Advances in April 2025: China Energy Engineering Middle East Green Hydrogen Project: Using magnesium-based hydrogen storage tanks to store fluctuating wind and solar power generation, with a hydrogen storage duration of 72 hours, and system costs 40% lower than liquid hydrogen storage. Yunhai Metal 200MWh Annual Production Line: A magnesium-based hydrogen storage tank production line was established in Chizhou, Anhui, using an integrated ball milling-sintering process, with a yield increased to 75%, applied to the Qinghai photovoltaic-hydrogen integration project. Shanghai Magnesium Power Cross-Border Storage and Transportation Solution: In collaboration with Mitsui, a pilot "methane steam reforming for hydrogen-magnesium-based storage" was tested in Dubai, with a magnesium-based hydrogen storage tank capacity of 10MWh, 60% smaller in volume than liquid hydrogen tanks. 2. Core Application Scenarios and Domestic Practices (1) Industrial-Level Long-Duration Energy Storage NEOM New City Project: China Energy Engineering provided a 50MWh magnesium-based hydrogen storage system, smoothing the intermittency of wind and solar power generation, with lifecycle costs 40% lower than liquid hydrogen storage. CATL Rare Earth-Magnesium Composite Hydrogen Storage Material: Developed Mg₂NiH₄/CeO₂ composite material, reducing the hydrogen absorption temperature to 150℃, suitable for heavy trucks on the Ordos coal transportation line, with a driving range increased to 1,000km. (2) Island and Off-Grid Hydrogen Supply Kagoshima Project, Japan: Toray deployed a 5MW electrolyzer + 20MWh magnesium-based hydrogen storage system, providing off-grid community power supply, with lifecycle costs 25% lower than diesel power generation. Domestic Suitable Scenario: Yunhai Metal provided a magnesium-based system for the Qinghai photovoltaic-hydrogen project, storing 48 hours of fluctuating power, with costs 50% lower than liquid hydrogen. (3) Cross-Border Hydrogen Trade Middle East-East Asia LNG to Hydrogen Pilot: Shanghai Magnesium Power and Mitsui collaborated to transport hydrogen in solid form by sea to East Asia, avoiding the high costs and safety risks of liquid storage and transportation. III. Comparison of Technical Paths and Collaborative Development Strategies 1. Performance Parameter Comparison 2. Collaborative Application Scenarios and Domestic Practices (1) Hybrid Hydrogen Storage Systems Hydrogen Refueling Station Scenario: The Anting hydrogen refueling station in Shanghai uses rare earth hydrogen storage tanks to handle frequent vehicle refueling, while magnesium-based hydrogen storage tanks store low-cost green hydrogen, reducing the system cost by 20%. Microgrid Scenario: Rare earth materials meet instantaneous high-power demands (such as fluctuations in photovoltaic power generation), while magnesium-based materials store hydrogen produced from low-cost nighttime electricity. (2) Material Modification Technologies Rare Earth-Magnesium Alloy Development: Such as Mg₂NiH₄ composite material, with a hydrogen storage density of 3.5wt%, and hydrogen absorption temperature reduced to 100℃, now in the pilot stage. Nano-Coating Process: Coating magnesium particles with rare earth oxides (such as CeO₂) inhibits hydride decomposition, increasing the cycle life to 800 cycles. IV. Industrialization Challenges and Policy Opportunities 1. Technological Bottlenecks and Breakthrough Directions Rare Earth-Based: Fluctuations in light rare earth supply (such as lanthanum and cerium) increase costs, requiring the development of cobalt/nickel-free systems (such as iron-based hydrogen storage alloys). Magnesium-Based: Thousand-ton production lines have a yield of less than 60%, requiring breakthroughs in automated ball milling processes and thermal management technologies. 2. Policy and Capital Synergy Domestic Policies: The Ministry of Finance included the R&D of rare earth-based hydrogen storage materials in the subsidy scope, with a maximum subsidy of 5 million yuan per vehicle; magnesium-based hydrogen storage systems receive a subsidy of 0.3 yuan/Wh based on storage capacity. Capital Layout: In Q1 2025, financing in the domestic hydrogen energy sector exceeded 20 billion yuan, with 35% allocated to the solid-state hydrogen storage track, focusing on magnesium-based materials (Yunhai Metal, Magnesium Power) and rare earth catalysts (Zihuan Environmental). V. Future Outlook: From Dual-Drive to Global Competition and Cooperation Short-Term (2025-2030): Rare earth-based materials will dominate transportation and distributed scenarios, while magnesium-based materials will focus on industrial energy storage and cross-border trade. Medium-Term (2030-2035): Rare earth-magnesium alloy materials will be commercialized, and hybrid hydrogen storage systems will become mainstream. Long-Term (Post-2035): Solid-state hydrogen storage, along with liquid hydrogen and organic liquid hydrogen storage, will form a multi-technology route competition, driving the full-chain cost of hydrogen energy close to that of traditional energy. Core Conclusion: Domestic enterprises, through the dual-drive strategy of "rare earths for transportation, magnesium for energy storage," have formed full-chain capabilities in materials, system integration, and cross-border trade. In the future, further breakthroughs in thermal management and large-scale manufacturing are needed to transition solid-state hydrogen storage technology from the laboratory to large-scale application, providing a cost-effective and high-performance Chinese solution for the global hydrogen energy industry.