PASSENGER

PASSENGER (Pilot Action for Securing a Sustainable European Next Generation of Efficient RE-free magnets) is a four-year project funded by the European Union from the climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials work programme. The project aims to address the lack of sustainable access to critical raw materials faced by the European Raw Materials sector, where permanent magnets represent one of the most vulnerable categories. 

Bearing in mind the importance of permanent magnets in present and emerging technologies, PASSENGER aims to develop innovative solutions for the EU dependency on rare-earth raw materials for permanent magnets, avoiding bottlenecks in the material supply-chain and diminishing the environmental impact. This sustainable substitution model will rely on resources that are widely available in Europe and innovative technologies. It will involve 8 innovative pilot plant activities, covering the whole value chain and including electromobility as a main key-driving sector. 

The ambitious project relies on a multidisciplinary consortium involving major European industries, academic leaders, and associations dealing with permanent magnets manufacturing, alloy production, powder fabrication, electric motors, e-vehicles, eco-design and product/process standardisation. The project is thus able to cover the whole magnets production value chain, from studying fundamental properties to the production of high-technology end products, while aiming at making the transition from a linear to a circular model involving citizens, international platforms and relevant stakeholders.