Alternative Energies
Keith Lambert
Energy Storage
DEPCOM Power
Wind
Jerry Burhans
The EU, USA, Japan, and numerous other regions identify rare earth elements as critical materials due to growing supply risks and their increasing economic importance in the green transition. Although critical rare earth elements have diverse technology applications - including in lighting, catalysis, and batteries - permanent magnets have become central to rare earth supply and demand challenges.
Permanent magnets, which contain critical neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium elements, are widely used in electric vehicle motors and wind turbine energy generators. As rare earth element use consolidates in these magnet applications, end-of-life magnets are set to become a key alternative source of critical rare earth materials to primary mineral sources. IDTechEx predicts that US$1.2B of critical rare earth elements may be recovered from secondary sources such as permanent magnet motors by 2045.
Why rare earth magnets are important
In 2023, magnet applications represented 29% of global rare earth demand by weight. Rare earth permanent magnets, namely neodymium (NdFeB) and samarium-cobalt magnets, are used to interconvert electrical and kinetic energy. As such, rare earth magnets are commonly employed in electric vehicle motors and wind turbine energy generators. Other common applications include hard disk drive actuators, medical equipment such as MRI instruments, and audio speaker equipment.
Global rare earth demand by application and common magnet uses. Source: IDTechEx
Impending international climate targets reliant on decarbonized energy and transport technology are driving demand for rare earth permanent magnets. Rare earth permanent magnet motors used in electric vehicles typically provide the highest power, torque density, and efficiency, with low associated manufacturing costs, compared to competing motor technologies. As such, rare earth magnet motors have maintained over 77% of the electric car motor market for the last 9 years. IDTechEx predicts that the number of electric motors deployed is set to double by 2035.
The impact of rare earth supply challenges on magnets
The high regional concentration of rare earth supply and refining capacity poses a persistent risk to the magnet market. China processes over 90% of rare earth elements globally each year - in the case of heavy rare earth elements, such as dysprosium and terbium, this number is nearly 100%. Regional supply concentration also extends downstream, where 92% of the highest value-add magnet alloy production (e.g., NdPr and NdFeB) and magnet manufacturing stages occur in China.
The price of key magnet materials has been volatile in recent years as a result of rare earth supply challenges. In 2011, rare earth export restrictions imposed in China drove an over 7-fold increase in the price of neodymium, while the price of dysprosium rose by approximately 2000%. More recently, rare earth prices peaked in 2022 at around 4 times its average over the previous 8 years. The potential for further price volatility continues to present considerable risk to rare earth magnet markets in the face of growing demand.
China's latest export ban on rare earth extraction and separation technologies has increased the market pull for alternative magnet precursor sources. In September 2024, New Zealand became the latest nation to identify rare earths as critical materials, joining the EU, USA, UK, Japan, and more. The emergence of critical material lists worldwide underscores the growing demand to develop domestic supply and processing capacity of critical rare earth materials.
How rare earths can be recovered from end-of-life magnets
The limited availability of primary rare earth mineral supply in many regions positions end-of-life magnets as a key alternative source of critical rare earth elements. Permanent magnets can contain greater rare earth content than many primary mineral sources. For example, a NdFeB magnet contains approximately 33% by weight of rare earths, including up to 31% of neodymium. In contrast, low rare earth content minerals typically mined contain around 1% by weight.
Emerging players are taking different approaches to recover neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and dysprosium from end-of-life magnets.
Long-loop recovery processes extract, separate, and recover critical rare earths from magnets into isolated rare earth oxides. Conventional solvent extraction technologies are being developed by companies like Ionic Technologies, Carester, and Shin-Etsu Chemical, while ReElement uses a chromatographic separation process to recover rare earth elements from magnets with reduced solvent usage.
An advantage of long-loop rare earth recovery is that processes can be supplemented with primary mineral feedstocks if needed. Moreover, the ability to sell isolated, rare earth oxides into a variety of application markets (beyond magnets) helps to sustain business models in the early stages while magnet recycling streams become established.
Long- and short-loop critical rare earth recovery from end-of-life magnets. Source: IDTechEx
Short-loop recovery directly processes rare earth magnets into pure recycled magnet material. Noveon Magnetics uses powder metallurgy, a high-temperature sintering process, to recycle end-of-life magnets into new magnets that retain 84% of their original magnetic strength. Alternatively, HyProMag employs a hydrogen decrepitation process (reaction with hydrogen gas) to extract pure NdFeB alloy from end-of-life rare earth magnets.
IDTechEx estimates that 195 tonnes of rare earth magnets will be recycled in 2024 using short-loop processes. As rare earth element use consolidates in magnet applications, short-loop processes are expected to become increasingly compelling recovery strategies due to their improved energy and chemical efficiencies over long-loop solutions.
Conclusions and market outlook
The electrification of vehicle fleets globally continues to create demand for rare earth magnets. This demand is unlikely to waver - with China being the largest electric vehicle market, rare earth permanent magnet motors are expected to retain the majority of the electric motor market share. While critical rare earth refining and magnet processing capacity will remain consolidated in China for the foreseeable future, this presents a clear opportunity for the development of alternative rare earth sources, in particular, recovery from magnets themselves.
IDTechEx forecasts that US$1.2B worth of critical rare earth elements can be recovered annually from secondary sources by 2045, with the value of rare earth elements recoverable expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.9%. The jury is out on whether long-loop or short-loop recovery strategies are most suitable. A current focus of emerging rare earth recyclers is developing sustainable business models until significant volumes of end-of-life material become available for recovery. In this respect, long-loop processers are well positioned, with key players currently supplementing feedstocks with mining tailings and other primary mineral supply from junior mines in North America, Australia, and central Africa.
IDTechEx | www.idtechex.com
Bridge Renewable Energy, a subsidiary of Bridge Investment Group Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BRDG) (“Bridge”) and WATTMORE, an energy storage energy management system (“EMS”) software and service provider, announced they have signed an agreement with Nebraska utility Lincoln Electric System to develop and build a 3 MW/12 MWh energy storage project that will strengthen the local electric grid, support an existing community microgrid, and help Lincoln Electric System develop knowledge and hands-on experience with battery storage.
“As we look for new ways to provide reliable, affordable clean energy to our customers, we’re pleased to partner with Bridge and WATTMORE on a state-of-the-art energy storage system that opens the door to understanding the important role such assets will play in the future of the grid,” said Emeka Anyanwu, Chief Executive Officer, Lincoln Electric System.
“WATTMORE is excited to partner with LES, Bridge, and Eos, on Lincoln’s first utility-scale energy storage project,” said Jonathan W. Postal, Founder and CEO of WATTMORE. “We believe WATTMORE’s Intellect Operate EMS and battery control technology is a great fit for municipal utility energy storage and their specific needs.”
The energy storage system, located near an electric substation in Lincoln, Nebraska, will support the reliability of the local transmission and distribution grid, while also supporting LES’ community microgrid, which provides grid services and resiliency in the event of an outage in the downtown area.
“We are excited to partner with LES on this project and for our continued relationship with the WATTMORE team,” said Bridge Renewable Energy’s Adam Haughton. “We look forward to working with our partners to deliver a customized energy storage project that will increase the reliability, resilience and flexibility of LES’ system.”
In addition to co-developing the project, WATTMORE will deploy its patented Intellect Operate EMS and battery control and monitoring software, which use machine learning and analytics to dispatch power from the batteries, control charging and discharging, and monitor battery health and performance. The platform monitors battery state of health at the string level and creates a battery dispatch schedule to maximize grid support, cost savings and revenue for the operator.
Eos will supply 12 MWh of energy storage using its third-generation Eos Znyth technology, powered by zinc aqueous batteries. Entirely made in the USA, these systems are engineered for long-duration, non-flammable energy storage.
“We are honored to provide our U.S. made battery technology to this innovative project, which will provide numerous benefits to LES and the surrounding community,” said Justin Vagnozzi, Senior Vice President Global Sales at Eos. “This project demonstrates the critical role energy storage plays in powering our economy, enhancing the reliability and security of our energy systems, and driving us towards our clean energy goals.”
Lincoln Electric System | https://www.les.com/
WATTMORE | https://www.wattmore.com/
Bridge Investment Group | https://www.bridgeig.com/
Eos Energy Enterprises | https://www.eose.com/
Representatives from Middlebury College, Encore Renewable Energy, and Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company came together on October 24th for a ribbon-cutting event celebrating the activation of a five-megawatt solar array that provides the College with 40 percent of its total electricity.
The solar array is one of the largest in the state with 15,348 solar panels mounted on single-axis trackers that follow the sun east to west throughout the day—efficiently providing renewable energy to the College.
“It has been a truly cooperative effort to make the solar array fully energized and ready to provide renewable clean energy to the College,” said Middlebury College President Laurie L. Patton, noting that Middlebury’s students played an important role in bringing the project to fruition, through a collaboration in support of climate justice.
The partnership allows the College to retain renewable energy credits and moves it closer to meeting the climate goals in its Energy2028 initiative, which in part calls for the use of 100 percent renewable energy by 2028.
Middlebury, Encore, and Green Mountain Power (GMP) formed an agreement that allows the College to purchase credits for the energy created from the solar array in support of its goal to use 100 percent renewable energy. The energy produced comprises about 40 percent of the College’s needs for electricity. The other 60 percent comes from its biomass plant, other local solar energy sites, and Green Mountain Power’s grid, which is 100 percent carbon-free and 68 percent renewable.
Chad Farrell, founder and co-chief executive officer of Encore, said the project is the first of its kind in Vermont, “bringing a new model of customer-driven, low-cost clean energy without negative economic impact to other ratepayers.”
Located about two miles from the Middlebury campus at 1342 South Street Extension, the solar array was developed and constructed by Encore and is now owned and operated by Greenbacker—an independent power producer and energy transition-focused investment manager.
“This solar powerplant is one of the first in Vermont that actually tracks the sun from east to west allowing us to generate between 15 and 20 percent more energy, which provides a cheaper cost of electricity for Middlebury,” said Matt Murphy, chief operations officer of Greenbacker.
Also part of the project, South Street Storage—a battery energy storage system constructed next to the solar array—will provide the ability to store excess energy that might otherwise be lost in the middle of the day when electricity demand is lower and the sun is brightest.
Encore | https://encorerenewableenergy.com/
Greenbacker | https://greenbackercapital.com/
Green Mountain Power | https://greenmountainpower.com/
Solis, a global leader in advanced solar energy solutions, proudly announces that its S6 Home Hybrid Energy Storage String Inverter and 25-100K 1000V Commercial String Inverters have achieved LUMA certification in Puerto Rico. This significant milestone underscores a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable, and efficient solar energy solutions to the Puerto Rican market.
LUMA Energy, a pivotal player in Puerto Rico’s energy sector, ensures that all energy equipment meets rigorous standards for performance and safety. The LUMA certification is a mark of excellence that guarantees products meet the highest industry standards and are well-suited for the unique demands of the Puerto Rican energy landscape.
Key highlights of the certified products include:
“Achieving LUMA certification for both our home and commercial string inverters is a testament to our dedication to excellence and our commitment to the Puerto Rican market,” said James Qiao at Solis. “We are excited to provide our advanced solar technology to support Puerto Rico’s energy goals and contribute to a more sustainable future.”
The LUMA certification process involves a thorough evaluation of equipment performance, safety, and compliance with local regulations. By meeting these stringent criteria, Solis’s inverters are now officially recognized as top-tier solutions for Puerto Rico’s diverse energy needs.
Solis | solisinverters.com
As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $428 million for 14 projects to accelerate domestic clean energy manufacturing in 15 coal communities across the United States. The projects, led by small-and medium-businesses in communities with de-commissioned coal facilities, were selected by DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) to address critical energy supply chain vulnerabilities. Five of the projects will be in, or adjacent to, disadvantaged communities, and every project will include a community benefits plan developed to maximize economic, health, and environmental benefits in the coal communities that power our nation for generations. Each project further positions the United States to win the competition for the 21st century and strengthen our national security by building supply chains for existing and emerging technologies in America, built by American workers with American materials. The projects will leverage over $500 million in private sector investment into small- and medium-manufacturers and create over 1,900 good-paying, high quality jobs.
“The transition to America’s clean energy future is being shaped by communities filled with the valuable talent and experience that comes from powering our country for decades,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “By leveraging the know-how and skillset of the former coal workforce, we are strengthening our national security while helping advance forward-facing technologies and revitalize communities across the nation.”
“Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, we are leading an unprecedented expansion of American energy production, a manufacturing renaissance, and the essential work of rebuilding our middle class. This is especially true in former coal communities, which are mounting a clean energy comeback by harnessing the urgent climate challenge in front of us and the clean energy solutions we invented here in America,” said White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. “These investments from the Biden-Harris Administration – catalyzing even more in private sector investment – will lift up these energy communities by creating good-paying union jobs, enhancing our supply chains, and ensuring that the next generation of clean energy technologies are made here in America.”
The global market for clean energy and carbon reduction technologies is anticipated to reach a minimum of $23 trillion by 2030. Investing directly in the domestic manufacturing sector’s small and medium businesses, which contribute to $1 trillion in gross revenue to the U.S. economy and provide more than five million jobs, rapidly builds capacity for clean energy production and maximizes the benefit to communities across the U.S. Swiftly increasing U.S. manufacturing output and deployment of clean energy technology is critical to meet our climate, jobs, and industrial competitiveness goals. By manufacturing clean energy technology domestically, the U.S. will strengthen national security and energy independence, revitalize industrial and energy communities, and mitigate the climate crisis.
As demand grows for clean energy technology, the projects will help prepare the manufacturing industry for what lies ahead. The fourteen projects selected for negotiation of award focus on manufacturing products and materials that address multiple needs in the domestic clean energy supply chain. The selections will address five key supply chains – grid components, batteries, low-carbon materials, clean power generation, and energy efficiency products. The lead organizations are listed below along with their proposed project locations:
Learn more about the projects selected for award negotiations here.
DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) leads several of DOE’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments, including the Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Program. Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time.
DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains | www.energy.gov
Trinasolar, a global leader in smart solar products and solutions, announced it filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court of Delaware and a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to protect its TOPCon technology patents from infringement by Canadian Solar, Inc. and related entities.
U.S. District Court of Delaware
To protect its intellectual property, Trinasolar filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Delaware that concerns Canadian Solar products sold in the U.S. that infringe on Trina’s intellectual property (IP). The action underscores Trina’s commitment to defending its TOPCon technology and holds accountable any entities that compromise its patented technology.
International Trade Commission (ITC)
Trina’s complaint with the ITC requests a limited exclusion order and a cease-and-desist order against Canadian Solar, Inc. and related entities. The limited exclusion order will bar Canadian Solar’s importation into the United States of certain solar cells, modules, panels, components thereof, and products containing the same that infringe Trina’s patents. The cease-and-desist order will prevent the sale of inventoried products within the U.S.
“Trinasolar takes patent infringement very seriously and we will always take the necessary action to protect our intellectual property,” said Steven Zhu, president of Trinasolar US. “We have significantly invested in our company’s TOPCon technology and need to make sure we protect our patents accordingly.” Trina is confident that it will prevail, reinforcing its determination to protect its intellectual property rights.
Trina owns more than 2,000 patents, including a significant number of core TOPCon technology patents, that protect the company’s intellectual property (IP) rights to critical N-type TOPCon technology used in solar module production.
Patent rights grant legal protection, and any entity that attempts to replicate, use, or sell without authorization may face patent infringement, and/or monetary damages. Patent infringement can result in lawsuits, as in the cases filed by Trinasolar. Trina’s legal actions against Canadian Solar, Inc. and related entities, are the most recent of other patent infringement actions pending against the company.
For more information on Trinasolar’s cell and module patents, visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website.
Trinasolar | www.trinasolar.com
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SEDG), a global leader in smart energy technology, welcomes the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s release of final rules for the Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit. Section 45X supports the Company’s rapid expansion of U.S. manufacturing capabilities, with two facilities now operational and producing inverters and power optimizers.
An Important Milestone for Both SolarEdge Residential and Commercial Offerings: The rule positively impacts SolarEdge’s U.S. operations, with the Company now manufacturing from two U.S. based facilities. The facility in Austin, Texas reached a quarterly manufacturing run rate of 50,000 residential Home Hub Inverters in Q2 2024 and has continued to ramp up production throughout the year. The Tampa, Florida facility began shipping Domestic Content Power Optimizers in Q2 2024 and is expected to reach a production capacity of approximately 2 million per quarter in Q1 2025. The facility is adding commercial inverter and Power Optimizer production starting in Q1 2025.
Ronen Faier, Interim Chief Executive Officer of SolarEdge, said: “We commend the U.S. Department of the Treasury for releasing the final rule for these important production credits. These manufacturing credits are helping drive the clean energy transformation across the country and the onshoring of clean energy technology manufacturing in the United States. In addition to creating thousands of jobs, these initiatives are playing a vital role in enhancing American energy independence and security. Our role in that mission is to provide best-in-class technology that increases solar energy production with the utmost safety and reliability for our installers, developers and their customers.”
Bertrand Vandewiele, General Manager of SolarEdge in North America, said: “SolarEdge's commitment to meeting the needs of the U.S. market through domestic manufacturing is a strategic move aligned with the needs of our installers, commercial developers, and their customers. As a leading supplier of residential and commercial smart energy technology, it is vitally important that we provide our installer network with dependable, fast access to domestically produced technology. This final rule plays an important role in our ability to deliver on that promise.”
SolarEdge | solaredge.com
Solar Nov 15, 2023
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