Unlocking Dysprosium Constraints for China’s 1.5 °C Climate Target

Dai, Tao; Liu, Yan-Fei; Wang, Peng; Qiu, Yang; Mancheri, Nabeel; Chen, Wei; Liu, Jun-Xi; Chen, Wei-Qiang; Wang, Heming; Wang, An-Jian

doi:10.1021/acs.est.3c01327

Title: Unlocking Dysprosium Constraints for China’s 1.5 °C Climate Target

Journal Article · 13 September 2023 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c01327 · OSTI ID:2314943

Dai, Tao ^[1]; Liu, Yan-Fei ^[2];

^[3]; Qiu, Yang ^[4]; Mancheri, Nabeel ^[5]; Chen, Wei ^[6]; Liu, Jun-Xi ^[7];

^[3]; Wang, Heming ^[8]; Wang, An-Jian ^[1]

Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing (China)
China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing (China)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xiamen (China); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (China)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Joint Global Change Research Institute
Rare Earth Industry Association, Leuven (Belgium)
University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei (China)
University of Tokyo (Japan)
Northeastern University, Shenyang (China)

Some key low-carbon technologies, ranging from wind turbines to electric vehicles, are underpinned by the strong rare-earth-based permanent magnets of the Nd, Pr (Dy)–Fe–Nb type (NdFeB). These NdFeB magnets, which are sensitive to demagnetization with temperature elevation (the Curie point), require the addition of variable amounts of dysprosium (Dy), where an elevation of the Curie point is needed to meet operational conditions. Given that China is the world’s largest REE supplier with abundant REE reserves, the impact of an ambitious 1.5 °C climate target on China’s Dy supply chain has sparked widespread concern. Here, we explore future trends and innovation strategies associated with the linkage between Dy and NdFeBs under various climate scenarios in China. We find China alone is expected to exhaust the global present Dy reserve within the next 2–3 decades to facilitate the 1.5 °C climate target. By implementing global available innovation strategies, such as material substitution, reduction, and recycling, it is possible to avoid 48%–68% of China’s cumulative demand for Dy. Nevertheless, ongoing efforts in REE exploration and production are still required to meet China’s growing Dy demand, which will face competition from the United States, European Union, and other countries with ambitious climate targets. Here our analysis urges China and those nations to form wider cooperation in REE supply chains as well as in NdFeB innovation for the realization of a global climate-safe future.

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Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; National Key Research and Development Program of China; National Natural Science Foundation of China

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2314943

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--184192

Journal Information:: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 38 Vol. 57; ISSN 0013-936X

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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