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Germany and the European wind industry launched a "resilience roadmap" to reduce their critical dependence on Chinese permanent magnets for wind turbines.
The plan aims to source 30% of these essential magnets from alternative suppliers by 2030, increasing to 50% by 2035, aligning with EU strategic goals.
Measures include promoting foreign investment, funding raw material projects, and establishing strategic partnerships with countries like Australia and Japan.
This initiative addresses Europe's energy security and competitive standing in the global clean technology sector, given China's near-monopoly on rare earth elements.
Germany's economy ministry, in collaboration with leading European wind power groups, today unveiled a comprehensive "resilience roadmap" designed to significantly reduce the bloc's reliance on China for permanent magnets critical to wind turbine manufacturing. The strategic plan, developed in partnership with industry leaders including VDMA Power Systems and WindEurope, targets a substantial diversification of supply chains for these rare earth element-based components, which are almost exclusively sourced from China and are indispensable for high-efficiency offshore turbines.
The roadmap sets ambitious targets: 30 percent of the magnets are to be sourced from alternative supply channels by 2030, escalating to 50 percent by 2035. These objectives align with broader European Union goals to bolster strategic autonomy in key industrial sectors. The initiative comes amidst growing concerns within the EU regarding its vulnerability to supply chain disruptions and its competitive position in the global clean technology race, where China currently holds a dominant position in both production and critical raw materials.
Key measures outlined in the plan encompass a multi-faceted approach, including the promotion of foreign direct investment into new rare earth processing and magnet manufacturing facilities, dedicated funding for raw material exploration and extraction projects, and intensified energy research into alternative materials and designs. Furthermore, the strategy emphasizes forging strategic partnerships with "friendly countries" such as Australia and Japan, aiming to establish robust and diversified supply networks for these vital components.
This concerted effort is a direct response to the geopolitical and economic implications of concentrated supply chains. The European wind industry, a global leader in turbine technology, recognizes that its continued growth and the continent's energy transition goals hinge on secure and resilient access to critical inputs. The roadmap is expected to drive significant investment in new capacities outside of China, potentially fostering a more balanced global market for rare earth magnets and enhancing the long-term sustainability of the wind energy sector.