Permanent magnets

When: Thursday, 23 November 2023, 13:45 - 14:30
Where: Dock 10

Session description

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a critical component of the permanent magnets used in the generators of many wind turbines. And whilst the demand keeps growing, most are currently sourced from China. The European Commission wants to create domestic supply of these materials by promoting EU-based mining and recycling of decommissioned components. Creating a rare-earth recycling industry in Europe is essential, but volumes to be recycled remain limited in the short term. Just 80 tonnes of permanent magnets may be come from decommissioned wind turbines whilst new installations would need 70,000 tonnes. in this session we will explore what recycling technologies are available, what challenges there are to the business case, and what the regulatory framework for permanent magnets waste collection and treatment looks like.