Project focused on recycling permanent magnets
Institute of Physics SAS launches a project worth millions of euros aimed at recycling permanent magnets. The aim of this cooperation of strategic importance is to increase the European Union's resistance to dependence on the import of critical elements needed for the production of permanent magnets from abroad. At the same time, scientists have the opportunity to create new jobs in industry. The project will have a positive impact on the environment and, last but not least, support will also flow to less developed regions.
"The project can be seen as a response to the vulnerability of the European Union, which results from the dependence on the import of rare earths necessary for the preparation of high-quality permanent magnets. Stopping the export of strategic raw materials from third countries could mean the end of up to 98% of their supplies to the European Union, i.e. stopping the green (wind energy, electric mobility...) and digital (hard drives, devices, etc.) transformation," says Peter Švec from the Institute of Physics SAS.
The project aims to build a new, hitherto non-existent technological chain, demonstrate its feasibility and present pilot solutions for recycling permanent magnets containing strategic elements with special emphasis on supporting less developed European regions.
"One phase of the project will be focused on the recycling and processing of used magnets, the second on the production of new magnets from recycled raw materials, and the next phase on their integration and use in products. It is the first of the mentioned phases that the Department of Physics of the Institute of Physics SAS will be part of," explains the scientist.
Magnetic materials from the recycling process have different shapes (flakes, tapes, fragments), different methods of processing and encapsulation (physical case, chemical coating) and different purity. Mastering the processing of such input recycled raw material is a necessary prerequisite for the success of the project. Thanks to the successful fulfilment of the project's goals, it is expected that by 2050, 21 processing centres will be built, a significant number of jobs will be created, CO2 production will be reduced by 95 million tons, and there will be a financial income of 1.8 billion euros.
It is a European project of the Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument type with a budget exceeding 6 million euros, in which a total of 14 partners from seven European countries participate. The project will last 30 months with a planned start in October 2024.
Institute of Physics SAS was also successful in another, similarly focused European call Rare earth and magnets innovation hubs from the HORIZONT IA scheme. Participation in such projects enables the Institute of Physics SAS to establish itself in the field of renowned European scientific institutions that bring solutions for the future.
Edited by: Monika Tináková
Illustration photo: canva.com