"One million tons is not very much"A large deposit of rare earths, which are indispensable for many technologies, has been found in Sweden. Prof. Dr. Dagmar Goll from Aalen University classifies the find.
"Das Vorkommen bietet Europa einige Jahre Unabhängigkeit", sagt Expertin Prof. Dr. Dagmar Goll (rechts). Foto: © Hochschule Aalen | Tim Burkhardt
Rare earths are an essential component of electric cars and wind turbines. This makes them a building block on the road to a more climate-friendly future. So far, China has been the undisputed world market leader. A deposit of one million tons has now been discovered in Sweden. Prof. Dr. Dagmar Goll from the Materials Research Institute at Aalen University (IMFAA) classifies the find - and explains why the material is needed in the first place.
What is the significance of discovering 1 million tons of rare earths in Sweden?
You have to put the find in perspective: According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the world's resources of rare earth oxides (REO) currently amount to 120 million tons, of which 44 million tons are in China, 22 million tons in Vietnam, and 21 million tons each in Brazil and Russia. According to this source, the world's annual production was 280 000 tons. Measured against this, 1 million tons is not very much. However, the deposit offers Europe greater technological independence for several years. In what proportions the various elements occur in the Swedish ore would have to be clarified. For example, according to the CRE Rare Earth Report 2020, annual neodymium magnet consumption worldwide will be 229,000 tons in 2030. The iron-neodymium-boron alloy (FeNdB) is a material from which the strongest permanent magnets are currently made. This is of fundamental importance, particularly with regard to the energy transition, the expansion of wind power, and electromobility. One million tons of REO could offset RE magnet consumption for about ten years.
To what extent can this amount influence the production of so-called green technology?
Again, I would like to return to the example of FeNdB permanent magnets, which are an essential material for electric motors in electric vehicles or generators for wind turbines. About two kilograms of FeNdB magnet are installed for an electric motor in vehicles. For a wind turbine the critical figure for the specific performance of wind turbines is the so-called magnet utilization. For newer wind turbines with an output of 5 megawatts (MW), this value is around 500 kilograms per MW output.
Why would funding not be possible for another ten years or so?
A comprehensive geological survey is required, then approval processes have to be gone through because extraction significantly affects the environment. And then infrastructure and the mining industry have to be built up. Because of the growing demand, it is important to have a European perspective, especially in 10 years' time.
Because of sustainability, the climate crisis,s and the finite nature of resources, wouldn't it be an excellent approach to focus on technology that allows more recycling? Keyword: Circular economy.
The circular economy of rare earth elements is vital because the CO2 footprint and the energy demand for recycling are much lower than for REO (rare earth oxides) as feedstock. However, due to the drastic increase in demand in the coming years, additional sources must be developed as well as materials substituted, and alternative materials and technologies based on them found.
Will modern technology only work with rare earths? What alternatives are there?
Substitutes already exist for many applications, but they are generally less effective, efficient, or useful. Further alternatives are being intensively sought and researched. Here, researchers are increasingly taking their cue from nature, which generally produces materials with a wide variety of properties using just a few basic materials. Another example is magnets: Alternatives without rare earth metals are being sought in the industry. Starting points are, for example, asynchronous machines or reluctance machines.
So the deposit will not make Europe independent. How do you solve this raw material problem?
The development and utilization of resources in Europe, combined with a consistent recycling economy, are an excellent answer to the raw material problem. Developing high-performance materials without rare earths and consistent recycling remain important research tasks.