TY - JOUR
T1 - Examining the rare-earth elements (REE) supply– demand balance for future global wind power scenarios
AU - Kalvig, Per
AU - Machacek, Erika
PY - 2018/8/15
Y1 - 2018/8/15
N2 - Rare-earth elements (REE) are considered Critical Raw Materials (CRM; EC
2018; US Department of the Interior 2018) and essential in the
technological transformation of the energy sector into carbon-free
technologies such as wind turbines, electrified transport and
LED-lights. The new technologies have led to swiftly expanding markets
for REE products, in which China has achieved a monopolistic role in all
segments of the REE value chains. Political strategies aimed to
establish REE supplies outside China are currently being implemented
within the EU and in other Western countries in order to ensure an
adequate future REE supply. However, new REE value chains outside China
have not yet materialised. The aim of this paper is to assess whether
the global REE supply from present and potential mines can keep pace
with the REE demand for the expanding offshore wind energy sector (Fig.
1). A successful development of this sector outside China relies on an
adequate supply of particularly neodymium (Nd) and to some extent
praseodymium (Pr), terbium (Tb) and dysprosium (Dy), used in permanent
magnets for windmill generators. In 2015, about 82% of the global
Nd-oxide production was used in the permanent magnets production (Adamas
2016). Here we evaluate the future supply and demand situations for Nd,
Pr, Tb and Dy in the global wind energy sector in the form of three
scenarios, one for 2020 and two for 2030 based on high and low demand.
The balance is discussed. Our assessment reflects the challenge caused
by limited insight into the REE supply chains inside China, and the
figures presented in this paper are therefore only indicative.
AB - Rare-earth elements (REE) are considered Critical Raw Materials (CRM; EC
2018; US Department of the Interior 2018) and essential in the
technological transformation of the energy sector into carbon-free
technologies such as wind turbines, electrified transport and
LED-lights. The new technologies have led to swiftly expanding markets
for REE products, in which China has achieved a monopolistic role in all
segments of the REE value chains. Political strategies aimed to
establish REE supplies outside China are currently being implemented
within the EU and in other Western countries in order to ensure an
adequate future REE supply. However, new REE value chains outside China
have not yet materialised. The aim of this paper is to assess whether
the global REE supply from present and potential mines can keep pace
with the REE demand for the expanding offshore wind energy sector (Fig.
1). A successful development of this sector outside China relies on an
adequate supply of particularly neodymium (Nd) and to some extent
praseodymium (Pr), terbium (Tb) and dysprosium (Dy), used in permanent
magnets for windmill generators. In 2015, about 82% of the global
Nd-oxide production was used in the permanent magnets production (Adamas
2016). Here we evaluate the future supply and demand situations for Nd,
Pr, Tb and Dy in the global wind energy sector in the form of three
scenarios, one for 2020 and two for 2030 based on high and low demand.
The balance is discussed. Our assessment reflects the challenge caused
by limited insight into the REE supply chains inside China, and the
figures presented in this paper are therefore only indicative.
KW - MiMa
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062322848&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.34194/geusb.v41.4350
DO - 10.34194/geusb.v41.4350
M3 - Article
SN - 2597-2154
SN - 1904-4666
SN - 1604-8156
VL - 41
SP - 87
EP - 90
JO - Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin
JF - Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin
ER -