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Sure, the turbines themselves down't require rare earths, but that doesn't mean it isn't used for windmills. "In Vestas, rare earth elements are used in the ma
by abricot 9y ago
Sure, the turbines themselves down't require rare earths, but that doesn't mean it isn't used for windmills.
"In Vestas, rare earth elements are used in the magnets found in the towers of all new models of Vestas turbines" - Vestas[1]
[1]https://www.vestas.com/en/about/sustainability#!material-use https://www.vestas.com/en/about/sustainability#!material-use
- strainer 9y agoRare earth magnets 'found in the towers' is a rather mysterious idea. I can only guess this is about relatively modest requirements of direction control motors.
- jessaustin 9y agoISTM a generator, even if it were set up to use induction, first would need to generate a small current using permanent magnets to "jump-start" the process. Without magnets, if no current is flowing, no magnetic field is created, and no power is generated.
- sjburt 9y agoIndustrial wind turbines just use power from the grid to start up.
- Robotbeat 9y agoCorrect, and you could also use a battery to start up.
- strainer 9y agoIt was not a great reference to clarify matters, its promotional language, but they state "Vestas’ current turbine range does not use rare earth elements in the generator. "
- dwyerm 9y agoActually, I just learned the answer a few weeks ago when I toured a wind-farm: Vestas uses magnets to secure ladders, lights, and other items to the inside of the tower instead of drilling holes. This neatly heads off problems with water egress and rust. It is a little daunting to see that ladder going up into the dizzying heights and see that it is held in place by the same technology that keeps the kids' art stuck on the fridge. Here's their patent on it: https://www.google.com/patents/US8567131 https://www.google.com/patents/US8567131
- strainer 9y agoThanks for this - I never would have guessed it!