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Germany Moves to Diversify Rare Earth Magnet Sourcing for Wind Turbines
5 Aug
Summary
- Germany plans to reduce dependency on China for rare earth magnets used in wind turbines
- Aims to source 30% of magnets from alternative suppliers by 2030, 50% by 2035
- Cites geopolitical tensions and Ukraine energy crisis as reasons to "de-risk" supply chains
As of August 2025, the German government has taken steps to reduce the country's dependency on China for rare earth magnets used in offshore wind turbines. The economy ministry recently published a roadmap outlining plans to diversify the sourcing of these crucial components by 2035.
The move is part of Germany's broader "de-risking" strategy amid geopolitical tensions with China and the energy crisis sparked by Russia's war in Ukraine, which highlighted the dangers of over-reliance on a single country for vital supplies. Wind generation plants, especially those located offshore, require powerful permanent magnets containing rare earths to optimize output and reduce maintenance, but their scarcity creates supply risks.
According to the ministry, permanent magnets nearly all come from China, which also applies to the rare earths from which they are produced. To address this, the government has developed a roadmap to establish alternative sourcing options, potentially including Australia and Japan. The goal is to be able to derive 30% of the required permanent magnets from these alternative sources by 2030, and 50% by 2035.
This diversification effort is crucial as Germany aims to treble its offshore wind capacity to 30 gigawatts by 2030, a sector that currently meets 5% of the country's power demand. Reducing the reliance on China for these vital components will help Germany achieve its renewable energy targets and enhance the resilience of its wind power infrastructure.
