28 Oct Opigeo member of a European hub for the recovery of critical raw materials
Since October 2024, OPIGEO has become part of a European excellence group for the sustainability of critical raw materials. The project, funded by Horizon EU, is called REMHub (https://remhub-project.eu/). Launched in October 2024, with a planned duration of four years and a total budget of 16 million euros, the project aims to create a cutting-edge digital innovation hub promoting EU excellence in the rare earth elements (REE) and rare magnets sector. (https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/economia/business_wire/2024/08/27/clic-innovation-il-progetto-remhub-sviluppa-una-hub-di-innovazione-digitale).
Rare earth elements (REE) and rare magnets play a crucial role in promoting the ecological energy transition and achieving the European Green Deal objectives. While the EU currently relies heavily on imports from a handful of countries—about 90% of REEs come from non-EU countries—this presents an opportunity to develop European expertise and create strategic collaborations in the processing of rare earth metals.
The processing of rare earth metals is a complex and strategically critical process, especially in modern industry. Rare earth elements are a group of 17 chemical elements, including the 15 lanthanides, as well as scandium and yttrium. These metals are essential for many advanced technologies, such as magnets, batteries, electronic devices, wind turbines, and defense components.
The main objectives of REMHub are:
- Development of new technologies: The project aims to develop, test, and pilot innovative technologies for the exploration and primary production of rare earth elements, as well as for the recovery of these elements from secondary industrial flows.
- Re-X technologies: REMHub also focuses on Re-X technologies, which include the recycling, reuse, refurbishment, and repurposing of valuable metals from end-of-life products, with particular attention to the design of electric machines that facilitate the recycling of permanent magnets.
- Traceability and sustainability: The project intends to implement traceability systems for rare earth elements and permanent magnets within the EU, developing methodologies for designing electric motors that enable the recycling of permanent magnets with reduced use of heavy rare earth elements.
- Digital innovation hub: REMHub will create a digital innovation hub offering a platform for new processes in the rare earth metals value chain, accelerating the development of technologies and services for faster and easier market introduction.
REMHub represents a significant step toward strengthening European autonomy in the supply of rare earth elements and magnets, while promoting sustainability and innovation in the sector.
Bringing together 24 partners from six countries, REMHub will develop, test, and pilot new technologies for rare earth exploration, primary production, and recovery from secondary industrial flows, enhancing the security of the EU’s rare earth supply.
OPIGEO will become a reference center in Italy for the recovery of rare earth elements from industrial waste, using already developed processes and improving their industrialization prospects. Southern Europe could thus become a key player in a new industry based on circular economy principles, equipped with advanced skills and technologies.
