UK rare earth metals from Pensana PLC has signed an agreement with Norwegian energy provider Equinor New Energy Ltd for the recycling of end-of-life magnets from wind form turbines at Pensena’s rare earth processing facility in Saltend Chemicals Park in Yorkshire.
Bloomberg reports that the joint venture will share technical and commercial information on the use of hydrogen in a low-energy method for recycling permanent magnets.
The chairman of Pensena, Paul Atherley, said that the firm is establishing a ‘world-class, rare earth processing facility’ at the Saltend Chemicals Park site.
“We are also looking to process end-of-life magnets from wind turbine nacelles using hydrogen’s properties as a powerful reductant,” he said.
Atherley added that the company is looking forward to working with Equinor using hydrogen from the H2H (Hydrogen to Humber) Saltend project and establishing an innovative process route as a key component in the circular economy for rare earth magnets in the UK
Recycling permanent magnets utilising hydrogen not as fuel, but as a reductant, whilst benefitting from the decarbonised power supply within Saltend, will use 88 per cent less energy than virgin magnet manufacture.
The partnership with Equinor is said to support Pensana’s commitment to the circular economy, as it looks to recycle an addressable annual market of 4,000 tonnes of end-of-life permanent magnets.
Equinor has submitted plans for its ‘Hydrogen to Humber (H2H) Saltend’ hydrogen production facility into phase two of the UK Government’s Cluster Sequencing Process. The facility will be supported by the potential supply of hydrogen to Pensana and other regional hydrogen users.
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