Assessment of the Risk of the Loss of Supply, the Recycling Rate and the Degree of Substitutability of Elements in the NdFeB Magnets of a Small Wind Farm Generator

Rafał Baron (), Daniel Kowol, Piotr Matusiak, Marcin Lutyński and Katarzyna Nowińska
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Rafał Baron: KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Daniel Kowol: KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Piotr Matusiak: KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Marcin Lutyński: Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Katarzyna Nowińska: Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Existing shortages on the market of critical and strategic raw materials and problems with the supply chain of selected raw materials, mainly those from China, indicate the need to develop recycling technologies for devices containing the above-mentioned materials. The aim of this work should be to ensure a sustainable supply of raw materials for industry in the EU. One potential source of raw materials may be small-power wind turbine generators equipped with permanent magnets (NdFeB). This research allowed for the development of a methodology for disassembling a generator containing NdFeB magnets in order to determine the shares of individual elements. Due to the significant shares of critical and strategic elements in permanent magnets, a detailed economic analysis was carried out. Based on the research results, economic benefits resulting from the recovery of valuable elements were indicated. The significant market value of critical and strategic raw materials contained in neodymium magnets was demonstrated. The risk of the loss of supplies, the recycling rate and the possibility of replacing the elements in permanent magnets were assessed.

Keywords: permanent magnets; NdFeB neodymium magnets; wind turbine generator; economic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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