The GREENE Way
Through its activities, the project aims to achieve a range of technical, economic, societal, and environmental goals.
Technical Objectives:
Resource-efficient, high-performance Nd-Fe-B magnets with -20% RE content, +20% coercivity, and (BH)max by 20%
How
- Multi-scale simulation methods to design the compatibility between the Nd2Fe14B single grain and the novel grain-boundary surface and achieve the highest coercivity and remanence
- Growth of Nd2Fe14B single crystals and investigation of their surfaces under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) to obtain an atomistic description of their structure, chemistry and properties, and a proof of concept of novel Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets with new grain boundary
- Development of single crystalline Nd2Fe14B phase feedstocks out of recycled and fresh materials
- Creation of “bulk”-embedded magnetic surfaces as precursors for redesigned Nd-Fe-B magnets with new grain boundary
- Creation of novel methods for producing Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets with recreated grain boundary; analysis of the relationship between the structural and magnetic properties on the newly created interfaces
- Advanced analysis methods to support the complex re-engineering processes of redesigned Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets
- Set up of a beta-prototype permanent magnets production
- Validation of the viability of GREENE Nd-Fe-B magnets in newly designed e-motor applications
Economic Objectives:
Independent, resilient and scalable supply of key materials, magnets and components within Europe
How
- GREENE beta prototype magnet production with a capacity of 1–2t/y and lasting strategy for full-scale production post-project
- Techno-Economic Assessment including Cost-Benefit Analysis, also as a proof to transform the way industry manages costs and sustainability
- GREENE Open Innovation Test Bed providing technology access and services to democratise magnet innovations in research and manufacturing
- New job opportunities in strategic innovation markets driven by advanced materials
Environmental Objectives:
Increased sustainability of magnet production with -5% scrap, -15% energy and -30% toxicity
How
- Increased use of recycled materials
- Technical improvements throughout the entire manufacturing process
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) comparing baseline, lab-scale and beta production
Societal Objectives:
Society and stakeholders better equipped for a sustainable green transition in Europe
How
- Awareness raising of the criticality of rare earth elements and magnets and their pivotal role for the green transition, among society, stakeholders and multipliers (e.g. policy makers, associations)
- Skills (re)development of the next generation of magnet-technology experts needed in European science and industry
- Synergies with related projects, initiatives and programmes