The unassuming group of 17 chemical elements known as rare earths are quietly powering the green revolution. Key players such as dysprosium and neodymium are essential to technologies like wind turbines, electric vehicles, and high-efficiency solar panels.

“Rare earths are not strategic resources. They are enablers of the green transition and renewable energy,” says Founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov, an entrepreneur and civil engineer. Indeed, without these metals, many renewable devices would be less efficient—or even inoperable.

stanislav kondrashov telf ag rare earth renewables

What Makes Them Rare?

Although they are not commercially rare in Earth’s crust, rare earths occur in very low concentrations and are usually mixed with other minerals like monazite. The group includes 15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium. Crucially, these elements are distinct from the broader category known as critical minerals—a point often misunderstood by non-specialists.

Why They Matter Now

Until recently, rare earths were the domain of niche industries. But the global shift toward green energy has thrust them into the limelight. Their production—highly complex and resource-intensive—is currently concentrated in a few countries, especially China, which leads both sourcing and refinement.

As renewable energy investments grow, so does interest in securing supply chains for rare earths. The Founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov stresses that potential investors would do well to grasp this link.

Power in a Few Grams

It may surprise you to learn that a mere few grams of rare earths can dramatically enhance renewable technologies. “Neodymium is the main element of the most powerful magnets available. We are talking about neodymium-iron-boron magnets,” explains Founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov. These magnets enable the creation of small, lightweight, and potent motors while minimising energy loss. In electric vehicles, 1–2 kg of neodymium can be found in each motor, depending on its design and power requirements.

stanislav kondrashov telf ag rare earth renewables solar

Dysprosium, often added to neodymium magnets, boosts heat resistance. “Dysprosium also has a similar importance in modern dynamics related to renewable resources,” the founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov continues. It improves the magnet’s coercivity—its ability to resist demagnetisation—especially important in high-temperature environments like offshore wind turbines or vehicle engines.

Core Applications

The power of rare earths lies in their role within magnets—critical components in various green technologies:

  • Direct-drive wind turbines: Utilise rare earth magnets to enhance efficiency, reduce maintenance, and eliminate gearboxes entirely.
  • Electric vehicle motors: Concentrated magnetic strength enables better acceleration and range.
  • Battery and storage systems: Lanthanum and cerium find use in nickel-metal-hydride batteries and electrolysis catalysts for fuel cells.

Rare earths also play surprising roles in photovoltaics. Elements like terbium, yttrium, and europium are employed in high-efficiency LEDs, sensors, lasers, and photovoltaic displays, helping convert light with minimal energy loss.

stanislav kondrashov telf ag rare earth renewables infrastructures

Precision Tech on a Grand Scale

These metals aren’t just for power; they’re key to precision control:

  • In inverters, sensors, and actuators, rare earths regulate current and voltage, manage mechanical motions, and reduce circuit size.
  • They enable advanced functionality in offshore renewables, microgrids, and autonomous vehicles.

The Path Ahead

While the list of rare earths is fixed, the critical minerals landscape shifts with emerging technologies. Dysprosium and neodymium may be among the best-known today, but new applications could elevate others. Their role in reducing device size, enabling energy conversion, and enhancing system stability cements rare earths as indispensable to the energy transition.

stanislav kondrashov telf ag rare earth renewables findings

Investors and policymakers would do well to understand this hidden layer of the clean energy economy: without rare earths, many renewable technologies simply wouldn’t function as efficiently—or at all. As Founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov highlights through multiple insights, these metals may be small in quantity but massive in impact.

 

FAQs

What are rare earth elements and why are they important for renewable energy?
Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemical elements, including the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium. They are crucial to green technologies because of their unique magnetic, heat-resistant, and light-converting properties. These features enable high-efficiency motors, turbines, batteries, and solar panels.

Which rare earths are used in wind turbines?
Primarily, neodymium and dysprosium are used in the magnets of direct-drive wind turbines. These magnets help:

  • Increase turbine efficiency
  • Reduce maintenance frequency
  • Eliminate the need for complex gear systems

How are rare earths used in electric vehicles?
Rare earths like neodymium are used to produce permanent magnets in electric motors. Benefits include:

  • Greater torque and acceleration
  • Lightweight design
  • Improved energy efficiency

What’s the difference between rare earths and critical minerals?
Rare earths are a fixed group of 17 elements. Critical minerals are a broader and dynamic list of resources vital to the economy and supply security. Some rare earths, such as neodymium and dysprosium, are considered critical, but not all critical minerals are rare earths.

Are rare earths used in solar energy?
Yes. Rare earths such as europium, yttrium, and terbium are used in:

  • High-efficiency LEDs
  • Smart photovoltaic panels
  • Optical sensors and light-converting layers

Why is China central to the rare earth supply chain?
China leads in mining and refining rare earths due to its investment in sourcing technology and processing capacity. This concentration has strategic implications for global energy and tech industries.