Short answer
Proactively explore material alternatives and design strategies that minimize or eliminate the use of rare earth elements in high-growth green technologies to ensure long-term product viability and sustainability.
- Field
- Resource Management
- Source
- Digital Collections of Colorado (Colorado State University) (2013)
- Method
- Scenario modelling and quantitative analysis
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Future demand for rare earth elements in wind turbines and hybrid electric vehicles is projected to increase significantly, driven by market growth and material composition. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2013 study published in Digital Collections of Colorado (Colorado State University). Using Scenario modelling and quantitative analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Proactively explore material alternatives and design strategies that minimize or eliminate the use of rare earth elements in high-growth green technologies to ensure long-term product viability and sustainability.
Rare Earth Magnet Consumption in Green Technologies to Double by 2020
Future demand for rare earth elements in wind turbines and hybrid electric vehicles is projected to increase significantly, driven by market growth and material composition.
Digital Collections of Colorado (Colorado State University) · 2013
Key Findings
- 01The base scenario projects strong, exponential growth in the global wind turbine market.
- 02U.S. sales of hybrid vehicles were projected to decline, while non-U.S. sales were expected to increase through 2020.
- 03Overall global consumption of magnetic rare earths was projected to increase.
- 04In 2010, global consumption was 995 tons of neodymium, 133 tons of dysprosium, and 50 tons of terbium; praseodymium consumption was zero.
- 05Different scenarios presented potential policy choices for reducing rare earth consumption.
Application
Design takeaway
Proactively explore material alternatives and design strategies that minimize or eliminate the use of rare earth elements in high-growth green technologies to ensure long-term product viability and sustainability.
How to apply
When designing products that utilize rare earth magnets, conduct a thorough analysis of the projected supply and demand for these materials, and actively investigate alternative materials or design approaches that reduce dependency.
Project actions
- 01When researching materials for your design project, consider their long-term availability and environmental impact.
- 02Explore alternative materials that offer similar performance characteristics but have a more sustainable supply chain.
- 03Investigate design strategies that reduce the overall material requirements of your product.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides quantitative projections for future material consumption.
- +Explores multiple scenarios to account for variability.
- +Focuses on critical materials for key green technologies.
Limitations
The future is uncertain, and projections can be inaccurate. The study might not account for all possible technological advancements or market shifts.
Reliability & validity
The validity of the findings depends heavily on the accuracy of the assumptions made for future market growth and technological changes. Reliability is enhanced by the use of historical data and scenario modelling.
Think critically
How might geopolitical factors or new extraction technologies alter the projected consumption and availability of these rare earth elements?
Design Principles
"Material substitution and reduction are key strategies for mitigating supply chain risks and enhancing the sustainability of resource-intensive technologies."
Understanding the projected consumption of critical materials like rare earth elements is crucial for designers and engineers developing sustainable technologies. This insight highlights potential resource constraints and the need for material innovation or alternative solutions.
What This Means for Your Design
The study shows that we'll need a lot more special metals like neodymium for things like wind turbines and electric cars in the future, so designers need to think about finding other materials or using less of them.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use the findings to justify your choice of materials, explaining how you've considered resource availability and sustainability.
- 2.Reference the projected consumption trends to support your arguments for material innovation or reduction in your design process.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the significant projected increase in the consumption of rare earth elements for green technologies, underscoring the need for designers to proactively explore material alternatives and reduction strategies to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of their designs.
Source
Digital Collections of Colorado (Colorado State University)
Evaluating United States and world consumption of neodymium, dysprosium, terbium, and praseodymium in final products
journal · 2013
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about rare earth magnet consumption in green technologies to double by 2020?
- Proactively explore material alternatives and design strategies that minimize or eliminate the use of rare earth elements in high-growth green technologies to ensure long-term product viability and sustainability. Evidence: Digital Collections of Colorado (Colorado State University) (2013).
- Why does "Rare Earth Magnet Consumption in Green Technologies to Double by 2020" matter for design?
- Understanding the projected consumption of critical materials like rare earth elements is crucial for designers and engineers developing sustainable technologies. This insight highlights potential resource constraints and the need for material innovation or alternative solutions.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Proactively explore material alternatives and design strategies that minimize or eliminate the use of rare earth elements in high-growth green technologies to ensure long-term product viability and sustainability.
- What were the main findings?
- The base scenario projects strong, exponential growth in the global wind turbine market.. U.S. sales of hybrid vehicles were projected to decline, while non-U.S. sales were expected to increase through 2020.. Overall global consumption of magnetic rare earths was projected to increase.. In 2010, global consumption was 995 tons of neodymium, 133 tons of dysprosium, and 50 tons of terbium; praseodymium consumption was zero.
- What research method was used?
- Scenario modelling and quantitative analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2013 journal from Digital Collections of Colorado (Colorado State University).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing products that utilize rare earth magnets, conduct a thorough analysis of the projected supply and demand for these materials, and actively investigate alternative materials or design approaches that reduce dependency.
- What are the limitations?
- Scenarios are based on assumptions about future market growth and technological development, which may not accurately reflect actual outcomes. The analysis focuses on a specific time period (2011-2020) and may not capture longer-term trends.