Substitution strategies for reducing the use of rare earths in wind turbines

• Published in: Resources policy 2017-06, Vol.52, p.349-357
• Main Authors: Pavel, Claudiu C., Lacal-Arántegui, Roberto, Marmier, Alain, Schüler, Doris, Tzimas, Evangelos, Buchert, Matthias, Jenseit, Wolfgang, Blagoeva, Darina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Critical raw materials; Deployment; Dysprosium; Electric power generation; Electricity generation; Market shares; Permanent magnets; Prices; Rare earth elements; Rare earths; Studies; Substitutes; Substitution; Substitution strategies; Trace elements; Turbines; Wind power; Wind power generation; Wind turbines
• ISSN: 0301-4207; 1873-7641
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2017.04.010

Considering the growing rate of global wind power and overall benefits of the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) wind turbines, the future demand for high-performing NdFeB magnet and its constituent elements is likely to increase. Future deployment of wind power generation may be affected by potential disruptions in supply and price rises of critical rare earth elements. By evaluating the substitution options for the rare earths permanent magnet-based wind turbines at the material and component levels, this paper shows that substitution has a real potential to alleviate the pressure on the supply of rare earths in the wind industry. Rare earth-free turbines with good efficiency levels were already developed and could be further adopted. Alternatively, the future demand for rare earths, in particular for dysprosium, could be reduced by improving material efficiency. The future market share of rare earth-based wind turbines will most likely depend on the evolution of the price of rare earths and the techno-economic advantages of PMSG in comparison to alternative technologies that use no rare earths elements. •The future demand for NdFeB magnets in wind power generation is likely to increase.•A security-of-supply policy needs to consider various strategies to secure access to rare earths, including substitution.•R&D focuses on finding new magnet compositions based on non-critical materials with similar properties to NdFeB magnet.•The demand for rare earths can be reduce by adoption of rare earths-free turbine designs and improving material efficiency.