Ceit, UPV and Indar are investigating how to reduce the dependence on the manufacture of magnets for electric motors

Indar and the researchers of Ceit-IK4 and the Basque Country University (UPV) are making progress in the technological improvement of the magnets used in wind power generators. Within the components of a wind generator, permanent magnets are a critical part, and the so called “rare earths” are essential for their production.

One of these "rare earths" is neodymium, an irreplaceable element whose extraction is concentrated in China. This element is used in combination with iron and boron to manufacture the most powerful magnets nowadays. Neodymium-iron-boron magnets are necessary in the green industry (electric cars, hybrids, turbines, etc.) as well as in many other applications, such as electric motors, hard disk reading heads, loudspeakers or headphones.

Considering the European Union 20% wind generation energy consumption target, the European project Neohire –where Ceit, the Basque Country University, Indar and the Fraunhofer institute participate- will contribute to ensure that the EU's electricity consumption will be based on energy efficiency, reliability and cost reduction criteria.

Neohire seeks to reduce the use of rare earths in the manufacture of permanent magnets for wind turbine generators. With a budget of 4 million euros for its execution this project will allow a) The increase of the efficiency of wind turbines, b) To reduce China's dependence on the global monopoly of production and commercialization of rare earths when it comes to obtaining the material with which the last generation magnets are manufactured, c) To reduce the strategic consumption of rare earths in the production process of such magnets and d) To overcome the challenges to achieve a commercialization that allows the large-scale manufacture of new magnets NdFeB (Neodymium, Iron, Boro) with strong implications for strategic industrial sectors of our area.