EV is good, wind turbine is even better !8 Oct 2020 12:58
Permanent magnets:
• Wind turbines currently represent ~70% of current NdfeB magnet market according to Rosskill
• In wind turbines – instead of needing electricity to emit magnetic field, large neodymium magnetics are used to produce their own. This has removed the need for parts used in pervious generators, while decreasing the wind speed required to produce energy.
• The global permanent magnet market was valued at US$20.74bn last year with expected growth of ~5.9% till 2027.
• Increasing production in the electronics sector was the major driver of the market until the emergence of the COVID 19 pandemic.
• Demand from Medical devices is growing significantly for ventilators and MRI rising significantly.
• Automotive is expected to become a major growth area with permanent magnet motors driving most new electric vehicles.
• The market for Magnet Rare Earth oxides, mainly Nd and Pr is expected to increase by five times by 2030.
• Total magnet rare earth oxide demand is forecast to increase at a CAGR of 9.7% according to Adamas Intelligence REE demand
• A 5-megawatt direct-drive wind turbine with a permanent-magnet generator will use around three tonnes of permanent magnets of which one tonne is rare earth oxide alloy or another rare earth compound according to Adamas.
• Plug-in EVs use 1-2 kg of permanent magnets while Hybrids like the Prius use ~2-2.5kg
• Each wind turbine uses around 0.15kg of Neodynium (Nd) per MW of power capacity suggesting the Dogger wind farm will use some 540t of Nd alone..
• Typical permanent magnet content of turbine generators (Wind Power Monthly / Science Direct)
o Low-speed direct-drive: around 650kg/MW
o Medium-speed geared drivetrain: around 160kg/MW
o High-speed geared drivetrain: around 80kg/MW
• Of which
o Neodymium (Nd): 29%
o Dysprosium (Dy): 2-4%
o Praseodymium (Pr): less than 1%
o Iron (Fe), Boron (B) and other metals: 66-68%
• Adamas estimate a shortage of 48,000tpa of NdFeB expected by 2030 equating to some 25-30m EV traction motors.
• Adamas also estimate a deficit of 16,000tpa of NdPr Oxide by 2030. See Adamas Intelligence Rare Earth Magnet Market Outlook to 2030.
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