Imagine if we could take old hard drives and e-scooters and pull out the powerful magnets inside to make brand new ones. Instead of digging for rare minerals in distant countries, this process cleans and reshapes the old material into high-quality powder. It's like turning old scrap metal into a fresh, high-performance product without needing to mine the earth again.
The EU relies on China for 98-99% of its rare earth elements, while only recycling 3-8% of end-of-life magnets. This creates a critical vulnerability for the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors.
A closed-loop recycling system including dismantling processes for e-scooters and hard disks, and three direct recycling methods to produce NdFeB powder.
If you are an EV manufacturer dealing with a heavy reliance on imported raw materials for motors — this project developed a recycling loop that recovers REE metals from end-of-life magnets. This allows you to secure a domestic supply of magnets with properties comparable to primary powder.
If you are a waste processor dealing with low recovery rates of critical materials from e-scooters and hard disks — this project developed a pilot-scale dismantling and recovery process. It enables you to turn low-value scrap into high-value recycled NdFeB powder.
If you are a turbine manufacturer dealing with the 98-99% dependency on Chinese REE imports — this project developed a green closed-loop recycling process. This reduces supply chain risk by providing a European source of recycled permanent magnets.
Based on available project data, specific pricing is not provided, but the project will demonstrate economic viability through Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA).
The process is being validated at pilot scale across 8 pilot plants, aiming for a final TRL of 6-7.
Based on available project data, a Dissemination, Exploitation, and communication Master Plan (DECMP) is being developed to maximize market impact.
Yes, the project uses Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Social LCA to demonstrate environmental and social viability in line with the European Green Deal.
The project period runs from 2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31, targeting a TRL of 6-7 by the end of the term.
The consortium is well-balanced for commercialization, consisting of 21 partners across 6 countries. With a 29% industry ratio (6 companies, including 4 SMEs), there is a strong link between the 9 universities and 3 research centers and the actual market. The inclusion of specialized entities like ERION for waste flux selection suggests a practical, supply-chain-oriented approach rather than purely academic research.
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