Rare earth elements (REEs) – and one of their most prominent outputs, NdFeB magnets – aren’t just important; they’re the backbone of tomorrow’s technology, renewable energy, defence and advanced manufacturing.
A significant number of global industries, governments, defence industries and future gadgets are critically reliant on their availability.
🔎 Let’s take a look at what these materials are and why they matter for our future.
• Quick Overview •
Rare earth minerals are a group of elements crucial to advanced technology, defence and energy.
Although actually quite common across the globe, REEs are widely dispersed in low concentrations, making mining and extraction challenging.
While high-grade deposits exist, they are rare and often concentrated in only a handful of regions. As a result, most mining operations require processing vast amounts of ore to extract useable quantities, often making extraction costly, resource-intensive and environmentally demanding.
Locked within mineral ores, rare earth elements must go through an intensive refining process to be extracted and converted into rare earth oxides (REOs). From there, they are transformed into metals, alloys, or other compounds, depending on their intended use.
Most significantly, some elements like neodymium and dysprosium, are alloyed and magnetised to create high-performance magnets – essential components in advanced technology requiring exceptional strength, durability, and heat resistance. The crown jewel of this effort is the production of NdFeB magnets.
As demand for these materials grows, recycling spent magnets is becoming increasingly important, helping to reduce reliance on mining, conserve resources and ensure a more sustainable supply.
• Renewable Energy & Wind Power •
Offshore wind turbines rely on powerful rare earth magnets, particularly NdFeB magnets, to generate clean energy efficiently. Key elements like Neodymium (Nd), Praseodymium (Pr), and Dysprosium (Dy) ensure turbines run reliably, even under extreme conditions.
• Defence & Space Applications •
Rare earth NdFeB magnets (along with Samarium-Cobalt magnets) are essential for modern defence technology, including jets, missiles, radar, and satellites. Given their critical role in national security, overreliance on a single producer such as China, which controls over 90% of rare earth processing, poses significant risks. As a result, securing more direct or alternative sources has become a strategic priority for numerous governments worldwide.
• Advanced Manufacturing & Innovation •
Known as “The Seeds of Technology,” REEs are the backbone of automation, lightweight alloys, and precision engineering. Industries like aerospace, electric vehicles, and medical technologies rely heavily on these materials for their strength, precision, and durability. NdFeB magnets, the strongest permanent magnet available, are again an essential player in this ecosystem, supporting almost everything from electric motors and wind turbines to advanced robotics and cutting-edge medical devices.
Image: Ionic Technologies’ Magnet Recycling Plant, Belfast UK
• Recycling vs. Mining: The Future Supply Chain •
With geopolitical tensions disrupting traditional rare earth mining and supply routes, securing strategic stockpiles has never been more critical. Any new mining projects will take years if not decades to bear fruit, this goes the same for the USA’s recent pursuit of REEs in Greenland and Ukraine – the problem is that supply is needed now.
The beckoning solution to part of this – particularly regarding NdFeB magnet supply – is recycling spent rare earth magnets, even running in tandem with mining and refining efforts like the Viridion joint venture’s circular economy project in Brazil.
There is already a mountain of scrap NdFeB magnets from retiring wind turbines, decommissioned military vehicles, defence equipment, and aging consumer electronics – ready to be recovered and reprocessed into a secure supply.
It is estimated that only 1 per cent of European magnet production is currently recycled, compared to the 25 per cent target by 2030 set by the European Critical Raw Materials Act.
Unlike mining, which takes years to establish, recycling technology exists today – providing a fast, scaleable supply while cutting waste, boosting domestic manufacturing, and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
Companies like Ionic Technologies in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, backed by Australian parent Ionic Rare Earths (IXR), are leading the way in advanced recycling and refining techniques, achieving over 99.9% purity in key rare earth elements: Nd, Pr, Dy and Terbium (Tb). As wind turbines are steadily replaced and upgraded across the UK and Europe, they provide a growing supply of recoverable magnet feedstock, fuelling the circular economy.
• What’s Next? •
As countries like the United States ramp up efforts to secure essential REE minerals for defence systems, renewable energy, and high-tech manufacturing, rare earths supply – and one of their most essential outputs, NdFeB magnets – have become a critical strategic priority.
By investing in better recycling and refining capabilities nations can reduce – or even end – their REE and NdFeB magnet supply dependence on foreign powers, strengthen national security, and drive the next generation of renewable energy.
With improved refinery technology alongside more accessible recycling capabilities, even countries with existing REE mines can close the loop and establish a secure, reliable, circular economy.
– The Bottom Line –
Rare earth elements – and NdFeB magnets – are the backbone of modern industry, powering everything from renewable energy and defence systems to high-tech manufacturing. Ensuring a stable, sustainable supply is a strategic necessity for economic and technological security.
The future of rare earths isn’t just about mining – it is about securing supply, reducing waste, and building a secure, self-sufficient circular economy. With the right investments in recycling and refining, nations can take control of their critical materials, strengthen their industries, and power the technologies of tomorrow – on their own terms.
Links:
- https://futuremining.net.au/nato-plan-a-boost-for-rare-earths-miners/
- https://ionictechnologies.com/rare-earths/
- https://www.theguardian.com/research-to-reality/2025/jan/24/the-challenge-of-recycling-rare-earth-metals-and-the-scientists-making-it-happen
- https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/what-are-rare-earth-metals-why-are-they-demand-2025-02-26/
- https://lynasrareearths.com/about-us/what-are-rare-earths/
- https://mining.com.au/ionic-tech-could-cut-magnet-recycling-emissions-by-up-to-50/
- https://ionicre.com/what-we-do/empowering-industries/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rare-earths-powering-tomorrows-technology-fensom-advisory-0gdif
What are Rare Earths? Why are Rare Earths important? Rare Earths in Advanced Manufacturing, REEs for Renewable Energy, REOs for defence, what are NdFeB Magnets? What is magnet recycling?
