tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post169404091483716232..comments2024-03-29T07:54:12.874+00:00Comments on MEI's Barry Wills: The real cost of using neodymium in wind turbinesMEIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14834780351452765156noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-76140651158069774872021-03-29T05:46:18.219+01:002021-03-29T05:46:18.219+01:00The issue of chaining climate has now become reall...The issue of chaining climate has now become really the major concern for many countries like UK and engaging a noticeable efforts to develop a renewable energy sources to keep the environment human friendly. It's true, the demand and use of wind power continue to grow globally, with the total global wind capacity now reaching above 651GW. This means that wind energy now covers 15% of the EU’s energy demand. In the UK, wind power is the strongest renewable energy resource, creating up to 20% of the UK’s total energy. However, while wind farms are increasing and the energy potential is attractive, downtime and maintenance can get in the way of maximising the investment of wind turbines. Research suggests that the reliability of wind turbines is high, with a 98% availability level. However, on average, wind turbines fail at least once a year, with larger wind turbines failing more frequently. And perhaps, developing a sustainable Braking for Wind Turbines and Air Edge® Virtual Feathering, we can benefit from enhanced wind turbine protection and <a href="https://www.ogab.co.uk/wind-turbine-technology/" rel="nofollow">reducing wind turbine maintanence</a> costs and effectiveness. Anyway, I found your article so informative and resourceful. I appreciate such kind of thoughtful demonstration. <br />Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05280903618850375663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-10271201835884886222018-03-24T00:18:56.217+00:002018-03-24T00:18:56.217+00:00I have been going through the issue analysed and e...I have been going through the issue analysed and explained and also the discussions to date; highly interesting and should set the platform on how to look at mineral industry--it is not only mine to metal but also the "total cost--nice Flag raised to all involved in mineral industry to ponder and advise the "decision makers"<br />This way of looking at mineral industry should be the "order of the future"" <br />Rao,T.C.Rao,T.C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11160713677908165404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-33656901198257677802018-01-18T22:45:42.409+00:002018-01-18T22:45:42.409+00:00On this side of the comments (2018) old/new inform...On this side of the comments (2018) old/new information about the way industrial wind turbines poison the environment and residents must be coupled with a destructive push to make larger and more impactive industrial wind turbines. It no longer looks like engineering, it looks like war against rural inhabitants. Now also, with the range of pollution impact widening as more turbines are being erected in these 'farms', nearby towns and cities are starting to slug and stagger.<br /><br />The worst of this is that almost all of this was know as far back as the '60s. It has never changed except for minor variations. Further, the kinetic energy is grid poison (comment welcome). Either way, companies are pursuing this and turning their eyes away from the deaths and physical damage they are invoking. Why?<br /><br />Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-74012628658913313912016-11-08T09:48:01.927+00:002016-11-08T09:48:01.927+00:00I would not be drawing any conclusions here based ...I would not be drawing any conclusions here based on a UK newspaper article. what seems to have been established is that some existing wind turbines utilise Neodymium magnets which are manufactured in a classical combustion process. Most combustion of fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide. In what amounts is the critical question. Not likely to match coal, oil or gas usage in power generation.Keith Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17662357439786929830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-50908740880605005832016-11-07T22:56:39.207+00:002016-11-07T22:56:39.207+00:00The specific topic of Nd in wind turbines here is ...The specific topic of Nd in wind turbines here is interesting all of it's own. But the critical issue here is the principle of addressing the net vertical supply chain of creating ALL alternate energies. They all have eco-footprint that are generally ignored by their advocates.<br /><br />People don't seem to get it. A car powered by electricity from a grid that is energized by coal fired thermal plants is not clean. Solar panels and battery systems installed in areas with abundant hydro and marginal sunlight are misguided. A wind turbine or field that does not perform to the original expectations (and most don't) must account for the energy and resources that went into it's build, installation and dismantling amortized over it's expected lifespan.<br /><br />Alternate energy technologies all have an environmental footprint, mainly as large holes in the ground called mines, that people don't even consider while being enraptured by the "free" energy they are getting.<br /><br />The true, ugly, uncomfortable, inconvenient truth of saving the planet? It's not shiny solar panels. It's not wind turbines (bird 'n bat blenders).<br /><br />It's the new 3 R's of the new millennium...Reduce, Reduce, Reduce.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-8228213851279451092013-10-10T09:00:19.725+01:002013-10-10T09:00:19.725+01:00So would I. Can anyone help?So would I. Can anyone help?MEIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14834780351452765156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-36222828228539734012013-10-10T08:55:21.860+01:002013-10-10T08:55:21.860+01:00I would like to know the energy costs in Mwh to pr...I would like to know the energy costs in Mwh to produce 1 ton of neodymium?<br />Thanks in advance<br />Harry HuismanAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13037787664054973850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-9175715490184121882013-03-04T14:02:30.519+00:002013-03-04T14:02:30.519+00:00In my opinion this discussion is very relevant. Th...In my opinion this discussion is very relevant. The processing of the rare earth minerals bastnasite and monazite are energy intensive processes. This is due to the leaching step which is a rather high temperature baking step as these minerals are refractory. The leaching step also involves acid or sodium hydroxide at high concentrations. Residues and wastes are thus likely to be hazardous. <br /><br />After leaching there follows the separation and concentration stages, and then recovery, all which require a good deal of energy either for the process itself or for the reagents in the process. <br /><br />In the case of bastnasite, which is a fluorocarbonate mineral, there is the problem of hydrofluoric acid generation during an acid leaching step, and the safe disposal of the fluorides that are generated. <br /><br />Both minerals are associated with radioactive actinides such as thorium and uranium. Clearly, safe disposal of these wastes is problematical. <br /><br />Both from an energy balance point of view, and from an environmental impact point of view the production of rare earth element magnets is probably not as "green" as we would like it to be, or we like to think it to be. If they are used, their production and disposal should most certainly be factored into a proper life cycle assessment. <br /><br />With so many processing steps and so many hazardous wastes, there is much potential for closing one's eyes to many of the problems, as has often been done in the past in Western countries and in Africa, leaving an enormous liability for the future.<br />Dick Groot, University of Pretoria, South Africa, via LinkedIn Minerals EngineersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-73038896699028805352013-03-02T10:53:36.754+00:002013-03-02T10:53:36.754+00:00I think an important point you seem to have overlo...I think an important point you seem to have overlooked is that although some wind turbine designs are based on permanent magnet generators containing neodymium, this element is not intrinsically linked to wind power. If you look at the model range produced by Vestas (currently the world's largest supplier of wind turbines) you'll see that permanent magnets are only used in those designs with a high power output, and/or large blade size. <br />http://www.vestas.com/en/wind-power-plants/procurement/turbine-overview.aspx<br /><br />The reason for this simply comes down to the fact that although permanent magnets improve efficiency and reduce the material and energy costs in the supporting structure, the high cost of REEs makes conventional electromagnetic generators more attractive for smaller-scale designs. This dividing line will of course vary with economics, but it does mean that those purchasing wind turbines have an option like any consumer to pay a premium for an item if they feel it is more beneficial to the environment.<br /><br />Of course before going out and trying to boycott the purchase/installation of permanent magnet wind turbines or hybrid cars it would perhaps be wise to stop and consider the more than 600 million hard disk drives produced each year, each containing some 3g of neodymium (or around 1,800 tonnes from a global Nb production of around 7,000 tonnes). At least with turbines the magnets will be used for something somewhat more useful than storage of data downloaded from another drive via the internet, and should prove more viable to recycle than small quantities dispersed around the globe.<br /><br />The separate issue of pollution in China extend to more than just REE processing, and it should be remembered that it is not that dissimilar to what was seen as common practice in the Western world not that long ago. In time hopefully pressure from the Chinese people themselves will affect change, but in the meantime I don't think there's much the Western world can say or do without seeming either condescending or hypocritical. <br />James Rowe, Australia, via Minerals Engineers, LinkedInAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-54054733712529867582013-02-12T10:01:36.805+00:002013-02-12T10:01:36.805+00:00Many thanks. It would be good to have a paper on t...Many thanks. It would be good to have a paper on this for <a href="http://www.min-eng.com/SRCR14" rel="nofollow">SRCR ‘14</a> which will be held in Falmouth next year.MEIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14834780351452765156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6908362959739425575.post-6250443015772278432013-02-12T09:38:42.558+00:002013-02-12T09:38:42.558+00:00That is why recycling and reuse of rare earths is ...That is why recycling and reuse of rare earths is so important, because while on the surface they may look "cheap" (and therefore disposable), they do have impacts other than financial.<br /><br />For this reason, the KU Leuven's RARE³ Knowledge Platform is developing breakthrough REE's recycling processes for Europe, find more information here:<br /><br />http://www.kuleuven.rare3.eu/<br /><br />Partners and collaborators are always welcome.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com