Pilot action for securing a sustainable European next generation of efficient
re-free magnets.

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The objective of the PASSENGER project is to remove the EU’s dependence on Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) like Rare Earth Elements (REE) which are used in the fabrication of permanent magnets. 
Instead, Passenger combines the latest research and developments of European innovative institutes and companies to replace REEs in permanent magnets by substituting improved strontium ferrite and manganese aluminium carbide (FMAC) magnets in a number of applications where their excellent performance at high temperature, their intrinsic resistance to corrosion and their ease of recyclability mean that they will offer an attractive alternative to Nd Fe B magnets.
Permanent magnets are becoming increasingly important in many aspects of modern life. Specifically with a view to the EU twin transition strategy, sidelined by additional aspects like the CRM Act and the net-zero industry act, the role of permanent magnets will all but increase, given their application in carbon-free technologies like electric vehicles, wind turbines, and a multitude of domestic appliances.

Graph showing the interrelationship between energy-transition technologies (center) and their dependence on CRM. REEs (both heavy rare earth elements = HREE and light rare earth elements = LREE) are shown on the left column as being of a high supply risk.

Source: “European Commission, Critical materials for strategic technologies and sectors in the EU – a foresight study, 2020”

As the graph shows, the European production of permanent magnets is currently fully dependent on the import of rare-earth materials mostly from China, which are expensive, hard to recycle, and generally have a very high environmental impact.

Approach

PASSENGER is developing an innovative way to produce permanent magnets without rare-earth materials and is piloting the new magnets in one of the most crucial fields for the European green economy: the electromobility sector.
The project makes use of a highly-skilled multidisciplinary consortium involving major European industries, academic leaders, and associations dealing with permanent magnets manufacturing, alloy production, powder fabrication, electric motors, e-vehicles, eco-design and product/process standardisation.
PASSENGER is hence in a position to include the value chain of permanent magnet production, from studying fundamental properties to the production of high-technology end products.

Why Rare-Earth Free Permanent Magnets?

Permanent magnets are becoming increasingly important in many aspects of modern life. Specifically with a view to the EU twin transition strategy, sidelined by additional aspects like the CRM Act and the net-zero industry act, the role of permanent magnets will all but increase, given their application in carbon-free technologies like electric vehicles, wind turbines, and a multitude of domestic appliances.

The role of  EIT-Raw Materials

EIT Raw Materials will be an important partner in:

Dissemination & outreach

Reaching out to relevant down- and upstream companies in PASSENGERS industrial sectors, particularly electric motors in mobility and energy solutions.

Connecting the project with the REE industry

EIT RM will support the project’s ambition to commercialise its products via stakeholder mapping and market analyses.

Promotion of project results

The Innovation Community furthermore contributes to the project by promoting the project results in its matchmaking events, its dedicated online platform, and by raising attention towards potential investors.

Partners

PASSENGER relies on a European consortium of 20 partners from 8 European Countries, including key end users and SMEs/LEs for a total of 14 companies.

Project coordinator

Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Nanoscience (IMDEA)

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PASSENGER receives funding by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101003914. The European Union contributes to the project with €8.9 M of the €11.3 M total budget. The project will last for four years (2021-2025), starting in May 2021.