Wind & Energy
Direct-drive turbines and offshore wind generators powered by high-performance magnets.
Enabling Clean Energy at Scale
Offshore wind turbines increasingly rely on direct-drive generators using NdFeB permanent magnets. These gearless designs improve reliability, reduce maintenance, and maximize energy output in harsh marine environments.
Onshore turbines typically require around 600 kg of rare earth magnets per unit, while larger offshore turbines can use approximately 2 tonnes. With onshore turbines representing 90% of the market, securing compliant supply of Nd, Dy, and Tb becomes Strategic for project timelines and economics.
Marine reality: magnets must be coated and sealed against corrosion, assemblies must tolerate vibration and shock, and service intervals are long. Programs that align turbine OEM schedules with upstream magnet capacity and finishing lead‑times avoid Strategic path delays.
Strategic Materials
Key Applications
Direct‑drive permanent magnet generators
Onshore wind turbine nacelle systems
Offshore wind turbine nacelle systems
Pitch/yaw actuators and condition monitoring sensors
Grid‑scale energy storage (battery materials)
Power conditioning and conversion systems
Industry Challenges
- •Large magnet volumes per turbine (600 kg for onshore turbines, ~2 tonnes for offshore turbines)
- •Long project lead times requiring supply certainty
- •Offshore logistics and installation constraints
- •Compliance with renewable energy certifications
Strategic Opportunities
- →Project-specific supply agreements aligned with installation schedules
- →Partnerships with turbine OEMs for multi-year offtakes
- →Recycling programs for decommissioned turbines
- →Dual-source strategies (China & ROW) to de-risk supply