German gov't, EU wind sector unveil plan to cut reliance on China for key turbine magnets

Germany's economy ministry and the European wind industry have launched a new "resilience roadmap" aimed at reducing the bloc's dependence on Chinese permanent magnets used in wind turbines, a key technology in the energy transition. The magnets and the rare earth elements from which they are made are almost exclusively sourced from China and are vital for high-efficiency offshore turbines, according to an economy ministry statement.  

Under the plan, Europe wants to reduce its dependence on individual third countries and establish new "robust" supply chains. The roadmap sets targets for 30 percent of magnets to come from alternative supply sources by 2030, rising to 50 percent by 2035 — in line with EU goals, it said.  It was developed in partnership with turbine manufacturers, suppliers, and trade associations including VDMA Power Systems and WindEurope. 

The plan identifies technical, market and policy steps needed to diversify supply chains. These include measures such as foreign investment promotion, raw material funding, energy research, and strategic partnerships with "friendly countries" like Australia and Japan. The EU is working on a "Clean Industrial Deal" to boost competitiveness and support decarbonisation efforts amid concerns it is losing the global clean tech race, as China maintains a dominant grip on both production and critical raw materials.