Give old wind turbines a new life! Tech company works together to recycle parts

ReElement Technologies, a company specializing in rare earth elements, has partnered with EDP Renewables North America, a renewable energy provider. Together they are working on a way to give old wind turbines a new life.

How? By recycling! They focus on a specific component of wind turbines, the so-called neodymium-based permanent magnets. These magnets are crucial to the operation of wind turbines, but when turbines are eventually taken out of service, these magnets often end up in landfills. That is not good for the environment.

This new partnership aims to change that. ReElement Technologies has developed a recycling process especially for these magnets. They say their method is much safer than traditional recycling techniques used in other countries. The goal is to reclaim these old magnets into usable rare earth metals that can be used to make brand new clean energy equipment.

This creates a ‘circular supply chain’ – the old parts get a second chance and the need for new mining is reduced. This is a win-win situation for everyone! As Chris Moorman, a major player at ReElement Technologies, said, “Our process…allows us to provide valuable solutions to supply chain challenges.” In other words: this new technology is good for the environment and for keeping clean energy affordable.