Design, manufacturing and use
Why do we need REE magnets – wind turbines, electronics
- Nd and Pr in Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) and Sm in Samarium-Cobalt (SmCo) make the world’s strongest permanent magnets. Other REE such as Dy and Tb are also used to improve magnet performance at high temperatures and decrease demagnetisation risk; thus, provide critical functionality in energy generation, electrified power applications and other (miniaturisation) applications.
- Without REE there is little chance to achieve UK’s net-zero targets and to maintain a competitive manufacturing-based industry. Access to clean, affordable energy is a globally competitively differentiating factor for the attraction of future investments into the industrial sectors of the UK (and the associated employment and service potential).
Are there alternatives?
- REE provide magnets with unique performance benefits, especially: - high energy density enabling strong magnetic fields relative to weight; - high coercivity leading to high resistance against demagnetisation (hence the naming “permanent”); - high stress resistance especially against mechanical stress and heat.
- While there are numerous technological and chemical composition alternatives, so far none of those matches REE-permanent magnets across application and mission critical requirements, especially power-to-weight ratio, thermal stability, energy efficiency.
What are the issues for Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM) in the UK?
- Geopolitical dependency and supply chain vulnerability: 85% of refining takes place in China, almost 100% of heavy REE (e.g. Dy, Tb) primary production is in China / Myanmar, and magnet manufacturing is also concentrated in China.
- Imported carbon and environmental burden: The majority of mining and processing of REE is still performed in countries with less well developed ESG standards. As a result, many of the imported REE products carry a significant environmental burden.
- Limited and complex process and manufacturing capabilities: REE are notoriously challenging to refine, with some solvent extraction plants having over 1,500 stages to achieve acceptable recovery and purity of REE products. There is no REE refining currently in the UK, no manufacturing of REPMs suitable for EVs or wind turbines, nor any recycling, although two recycling companies have reached demonstration stage.
- Almost no technological alternatives: REPM are superior to other magnets or solutions across many decarbonisation technologies. There is a risk that private sector players will need to ‘backward integrate’ and move manufacturing capacity close to the refinement stages (in China), thus potentially making it even harder for the UK to maintain its engineering and manufacturing edge for future technologies.
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