Wind Generator Magnet Permanent Magnetic Generator

Wind power is an essential component of the modern energy grid and has been a staple for the renewables industry for decades. It is a form of clean energy that does not emit any environmentally toxic materials, but it requires an incredible amount of power to generate its own electricity. That is because wind turbines are powered by a massive magnet called a permanent magnetic generator. The combination of this big magnet and the rotating blades captures rotational energy from the wind to produce power that can be used to help power homes, businesses and electric vehicles.

The magnet in a wind power turbine is made up of several elements, including neodymium (a rare-earth metal) and iron. Neodymium magnets are the strongest commercially available and are used in everything from phones to medical equipment to electric vehicle motors. Permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSGs) in wind turbines are also a key application for this type of rare-earth magnet because they can be lighter, more compact and offer higher efficiency than traditional mechanical gearboxes.

PMSGs are a key innovation in wind-energy technology that has significantly improved the economics of wind power. They also allow for more flexible operation, reduced maintenance requirements and enhanced grid compatibility. They can be used in both geared and direct-drive wind turbine designs, although the latter typically use more neodymium to achieve higher torque density than geared systems.

In addition to a neodymium-based permanent magnetic generator, most modern wind turbines are built with an external rotor that uses claw or zig-zag design and features an outer layer of aluminum or steel to reduce weight and maximize aerodynamic performance. Each rotor has a large number of high-performance disc magnets that work together to extract and convert wind rotational energy into alternating current. The combination of these magnets and the rotating blades create a force that can generate up to 12 kilowatts of electricity, enough to power thousands of homes.

As this technology continues to be widely deployed, there is a growing concern over potential health effects related to electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by the machines and the wires that connect them to homes and substations. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has categorized EMF as a Class 2B possible human carcinogen.

The growing deployment of wind turbines around the world is a key factor driving the growth in demand for magnets. Australia’s Lynas Corporation, which mines REEs such as neodymium and dysprosium, estimates that wind power could account for 30% of global growth in PMSG production over the next five years. This will be largely driven by structural reforms in China that limit production and rapid uptake of low-carbon technologies such as electric vehicles, it adds.

The good news is that this increased demand for permanent magnets will help drive technological innovation and recycling, reducing the need for mining new reserves. However, the process will take time and the business case for collecting end-of-life magnets from decommissioned wind turbines or electric vehicles will only become viable when the technology is widely in place.