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CRM Alliance – Critical Raw Materials Alliance T. +32.2.213.74.21 – [email protected] - www.criticalrawmaterials.org

CRM Alliance

EU Projects concerning Critical Raw Materials – December 2018

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Dear Members, Welcome to the 2018 December edition of the CRM Alliance’s newsletter on current EU projects concerning CRMs, funded under the Horizon 2020. The newsletter has the objective of informing members on the developments and outcomes of the projects. Members will find an “Update Sticker” next to projects reported for the first time or next to the projects featuring new developments. Further projects will be included in the upcoming editions of the newsletter. As always, in case of interest concerning a specific project not included in the present newsletter or not funded under Horizon 2020, members are more than welcome to submit their requests to the Secretariat. Index – Projects on CRMs:

1. SCRREEN pg. 3 2. e.Through pg. 4 3. NEOHIRE pg. 4 4. Flinstone2020 pg. 5 5. STARCELL pg. 6 6. INTMET pg. 6 7. NOVAMAG pg. 8 8. AMPHIBIAN pg. 9 9. FAME pg. 10 10. LOTER-CO2M pg. 10 11. EQUINOX pg. 11

12. Partial – PGMs pg. 11 13. PROMETHEUS pg. 12 14. CREATE pg. 12 15. PEGASUS pg. 13 16. CRESCENDO pg. 14 17. ReFreeDrive pg. 15 18. PLATIRUS pg. 16 19. X-Mine project pg. 16 20. Demeter pg. 16 21. CroCOdile pg. 17

Index – Projects on Raw Materials

22. MIREU pg. 18 23. Intermin pg. 18 24. Smart Exploration pg. 19 25. FORAM pg. 20

26. MIN Guide pg. 21 27. METGROW + pg. 22 28. ERA-Min 2 pg. 22

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1. SCRREEN – Solutions for Critical Raw Materials – a European Expert Network

Start date: 01/11/2016 End date: 30/04/2019

Objective: SCRREEN aims at gathering European initiatives, associations, clusters, and projects working on CRMs into a long-lasting Expert Network on Critical Raw Materials, including the stakeholders, public authorities and civil society representatives. SCRREEN will contribute to improve the CRM strategy in Europe by (i) mapping primary and secondary resources as well as substitutes of CRMs, (ii) estimating the expected demand of various CRMs in the future and identifying major trends, (iii) providing policy and technology recommendations for actions improving the production and the potential substitution of CRM, (iv) addressing specifically WEEE and other EoL products issues related to their mapping and treatment standardization and (v) identifying the knowledge gained over the last years and easing the access to these data beyond the project. SCRREEN will coordinate a global reflection on CRM policy and carry out reports on the following subjects: • Reflection on the major trends in the future demand • State of the art of the CRM value chains including a mapping of resources, mining, processing,

recycling, applications and substitution based on existing knowledge • Identification of the gaps in technology and policy and analysis of the innovation potential all

along these value chains, including primary and secondary sources as well as substitution • Recommendations to improve the standardisation of WEEE (and other specific waste) treatment • Organisation and optimisation of knowledge management, in relation with the EURMKB

objective

Results: At the moment, SCRREEN reports are not available. SCRREEN has launched a call for experts in preparation of the 2020 Raw Materials Criticality Assessment. The survey aims at identifying the most relevant experts that will be invited by the European Commission to contribute to the criticality assessment by the end of 2018 Take the survey here SCRREEN has published its latest report D8.1: Prevalence, recyclability, cost and financing of CRM recycling for WEEE. Read the report here Website: http://scrreen.eu/

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2. e.THROUGH


Objective: e.THROUGH aims at transforming the EU’s dependence on CRMs into a strategic strength for Europe, contributing towards declassifying some CRMs, as tungsten, indium and gallium by: • Promoting new trends in the characterization and exploration of mineral deposits • Mapping CRMs between EU mining regions • Gaining knowledge on innovative processes for the secondary recovery of CRMs • Redesigning construction materials, closing loops, strongly supporting waste minimization • Developing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for the evaluation of global environmental impacts • Transferring newly generated knowledge to stakeholders, both for policy development and

standardization, and for shaping responsible behaviours e.THROUGH is an intersectoral and interdisciplinary consortium of EU & Third Country partners of leading institutions that see waste as a resource to recover CRMs, influencing the whole value chain. Results: Still in the initial phase → No information has been published. Website: https://ethrough.wordpress.com 3. NEOHIRE - NEOdymium-Iron-Boron base materials, fabrication techniques and recycling solutions to HIghly REduce the consumption of Rare Earths in Permanent Magnets for Wind Energy Application

Start date: 01/02/2017 End Date: 31/01/2020

Objective: NEOHIRE’s main objective is to reduce the use of rare earth elements (REE), and Co and Ga (CRMs), in the permanent magnets used in wind turbine generators (WTG). This objective is mainly achieved through the development of: a) new concept of bonded NdFeB magnet able to substitute the present state-of-the-art sintered magnets for WT, and b) new recycling techniques for these CRM from the future and current permanent magnets (PM) wastes. In this way, the EU external demand of REE and CRM for PM in WTG will be reduced by 50% (due to a strong reduction of the REE (Dy and Nd) and CRM (Co and Ga) needed to manufacture NEOHIRE PM for WT and to a high supply-chain based on reuse). Results: NEOHIRE Project has been presented at the 21st International Solvent Extraction Conference (ISEC) in Miyazaki, Japan on the 5th of November, 2017. No deliverables have been reached so far. The NEOHIRE project was presented within the international exhibition FORMNEXT. Read more here Website: http://neohire.eu/

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4. Flintstone2020


Objective: Aims to provide a perspective for the replacement of tungsten (W) and cobalt (Co), main constituents for two important classes of hard materials (cemented carbides/WC-Co, and PCD/diamond-Co), by developing innovative alternative solutions for tooling operations under extreme conditions in the following application areas: • Machining ferritic and perlitic materials (steels and irons) • Machining austenitic materials (stainless steels and superalloys) • Machining titanium alloys and other special materials (composite materials) • Machining martensitic materials (hardened steels) • Cutting and processing rock and concrete

Recent publications: • Influence of tool material and tool wear on tool temperature in hard turning reconstructed via

inverse problem solution – published in “Journal of Superhard Materials”, issue volume 39(3), 2017. Page (s) 192-202

• Wear mechanisms of uncoated and coated cemented carbide tools in machining lead-free silicon brass - Published in “Wear”, issue Volume 376-377, 2017. Page(s) 143-151. ISSN: 0043-1648

Results Achieved: WP1 → concentrated on the identification of wear mechanisms of reference tool materials in selected machining operations as well as dedicated to the build-up of setups and infrastructure for quantitative characterization of individual wear mechanisms for their later modelling. Significant effort was dedicated to machining process temperature simulation – a parameter that drives and controls all wear mechanisms.

WP2 → investigated chemical interaction and phase relations in the binary B-X systems (X = N, P) and comprehensively characterized three new superhard B-X phases. Six binder systems were chosen for further process and property optimization, to be followed by preliminary cutting tests at WP1.

WP3 → devoted to sintering of diamond- and cBN-based composites at high pressure and temperature with the use of different binders. Main efforts were concentrated on experiments at pressures above 7 GPa and temperatures above 2000 °C. To maintain these extreme high parameters the new design of high-pressure cell was developed.

WP5 → a modularized FE-model has been developed to be able to customize the tool micro geometry to the specific material properties that will be achieved for the new non-CRM based tool materials. Benchmark FE simulation studies have been done for reference stainless steel workpiece (AISI 316L) with reference tool materials. Furthermore, a cost breakdown model has been developed that can be used as a basis for comparison between conventional tool materials and the materials developed in the Flintstone2020, also accounting for tool material performance. Additionally,

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several different models and model solutions for the calculation of Cost to Performance Ratio have been proposed, which will be further developed.

WP6 → investigated recently published data on manufacturing as a reference of tooling and possible application of superhard materials, which has led to an initial dataset for LCA and eco-efficiency analysis. A first specification of the state of the art tool design for metal processing and rock cutting has been defined in cooperation with the project partners. Website: http://flintstone2020.eu/ 5. STARCELL – Advanced strategies for substitution of critical raw materials in photovoltaics (PV)


Objective: STARCELL proposes the substitution of CRM’s in thin film PV by the development and demonstration of a cost effective solution based on kesterite CZTS (Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4) materials.

Kesterites are only formed by elements abundant in the earth crust with low toxicity offering a secure supply chain and minimizing recycling costs and risks, and are compatible with massive sustainable deployment of electricity production at TeraWatt levels. Optimisation of the kesterite bulk properties together with redesign and optimization of the device interfaces and the cell architecture will be developed for the achievement of a challenging increase in the device efficiency up to 18% at cell level and targeting 16% efficiency at mini-module level, in line with the efficiency targets established at the SET Plan for 2020. These efficiencies will allow initiating the transfer of kesterite based processes to pre-industrial stages. These innovations will give to STARCELL the opportunity to demonstrate CRM free thin film PV devices with manufacturing costs ≤ 0.30 €/Wp, making first detailed studies on the stability and durability of the kesterite devices under accelerated test analysis conditions and developing suitable recycling processes for efficient re-use of material waste.

Results: deliverables are not yet available The 3rd STARCELL newsletter was published on 30 December 2018. Read the newsletter here

On 13 and 14 December 2018, STARCELL organised a meeting corresponding to the 24 month of the project addressing past results and future actions. Read more here Website: http://www.starcell.eu/

6. INTMET - Integrated innovative metallurgical system to benefit efficiently polymetallic, complex and low-grade ores and concentrates


Objective: The INTMET project is working to achieve two major innovations:

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(i) A new and efficient technology to deal with low-grade, complex ores which will change the current and future operations of mineral deposits (including recycling of metals in tailings and metallurgical wastes) in Europe and elsewhere (ii) A new mining (mine-to-metal) business model based on the technology breakthroughs

Having mining companies as end-users, this new business model creates new opportunities for the minerals industry and contributes to a more sustainable management of land and minerals by reducing environmental impacts, increasing the efficiency of the resources (less energy, less water needed) and by valorising valuable metals currently discarded.

Work Packages: The project is divided into 9 Work Packages (WP) considering the technological development as well as the process validation and the exploitation approach: WP1 → concentrates on raw materials sampling, characterization, preliminary treatments and selection. Read the factsheet here WP2 → addresses the mandatory treatment of the raw materials. Read the factsheet here

WP3 → focuses on atmospheric pressure conditions leaching for studied ores to extract and on purifying the main metals from pregnant leaching solution, specifically in the development of new technologies for extracting value metal recovery from solid residue. Read the factsheet here WP4 → will test pressure leaching conditions, improvement in efficient anodes for EW and for extracting value metal recovery from solid residue. Read the factsheet here WP5 → will develop application of bioleaching and associated processes to metals refining and recovery. Each raw material from the mines will be tested in each process line. Read the factsheet here WP6 → will focus on the important environmental and key aspects of valorisation of waste and tailings obtaining by-products and water and effluent reuse and purification. Read the factsheet here WP7 → will focus on the evaluation and analysis of the different technologies, the selection of solutions to pilot and a general technological assessment. Read the factsheet here WP8 → will define the business plan, the commercial strategy and the project outcomes and results.

Most of the deliverables have been submitted to the European Commission. Read all publicly available deliverables here

Read the developments reached in the first 18 months here

INTMET has launched a survey to gather information on the processing ores, especially low-grade and/or complex ones. The questionnaire should help to identify appropriate applications cases for

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INTMET process, collecting information on the processing of low-grade and complex ores, and adopting parameters of the research → Read more here

→ Take the survey here INTMET Clustering Conference on Fostering innovation in the Iberian Pyrite Belt will take place on 23 January 2019 in Seville, Spain. Registration and agenda here Final INTMET Consortium meeting will take place in Seville on 22 January 2019. Read more here Final INTMET Press Conference will take place in Seville on 22 January 2019. Read more here Final INTMET Review meeting will take place in Seville on 12 March 2019. Read more here Website: http://www.intmet.eu/ 7. NOVAMAG


Objective: The project aims at using theoretical modelling tools to discover/develop advanced rare earth-free/lean permanent magnets. For this, a consortium with interdisciplinary expertise is put together to undertake an integrative and concerted effort to provide the fundamental innovations and breakthroughs that are needed to design/predict theoretically new phases and microstructures required for the development and application of advanced permanent magnets without the use of critical raw materials (CRM).

NOVAMAG will also advance the state-of-the-art in permanent magnets by designing special microstructures, which to date focus on a limited number of readily accessible microstructures employing time-consuming procedures. New systems will be investigated by different high screening techniques and micromagnetic simulations. In addition, the project will build on theoretical and simulation advances on the influence of key microstructural features such as grain size, defects, and hard magnetic shells on the hysteresis properties of permanent magnets through computational micromagnetics.

The research will focus on the development of novel permanent magnets, by design, made from sustainable resources by an eco-efficient cycle, with attention to each step of production from large scale computational screenings, to raw material pre-treatment, to synthesis, to extraction and processing. The process developed for the computational driven new alloys should be adaptable to industry for its easy upscale and rapid up taking.

Finally, the characterisation of the resulting NOVAMAG magnets will be carried out to evaluate the potential for its use in markets, such as, automotive components for the “green car” and Wind Mills.

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Work Packages: WP1 → Design/discovery of rare earth free uniaxial ferromagnetic phases based on heat of formation and ferromagnetic character WP2 → Screening based on Calculated magnetic properties (magnetization, Curie temperature and magnetic anisotropy), and on thermodynamic considerations WP3 → Experimental Activities will demonstrate the viability of the simulation results and predict their future industrial application and commercialisation and Experimental screening of theoretically simulated phases WP4 → Design by modelling the microstructure and micromagnetics of the considered phases for best performance WP5 → Developing High Coercivity in Samples with the Theoretically Simulated Phases WP6 → Characterization of the new theoretically found phase materials and permanent magnets for comparison with the simulation results WP7 → Design of new compound magnet processing WP8 → Life cycle assessment, regulatory compliance and end-user validation, and economic modelling WP9 → Exploitation, Dissemination, training and Networking WP10 → Consortium Management The second video has been published in the YouTube channel of NOVAMAG and features some development activities for High Coercivity in Heavy-Rare-Hearth Lean Samples. Watch the video here Website: http://www.novamag.eu/ 8. AMPHIBIAN - Anisometric permanent hybrid magnets based on inexpensive and non-critical materials

Start date: 01/01/2017 End date: 31/12/2019 Objective: The AMPHIBIAN project has received funding from the European Commission to develop new ferrite magnets based on promising new findings about their optimal compositions. In addition to reducing dependency on rare earth materials, these new magnets will serve to store and deliver renewable energy, as one of the project’s tangible aims is designing and creating a device for this purpose. AMPHIBIAN also has a particular focus on developing sustainable manufacturing processes for the magnets by reducing and recycling waste, making production more cost-effective as well as more eco-friendly. Status: ongoing.

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Website: http://amphibianproject.eu/ 9. FAME - Flexible and Mobile Economic Processing Technologies


Objective: FAME is an active Research and Innovation project to develop economically viable, flexible and mobile combinations of technology to exploit European ore deposits that are often relatively small in tonnage terms. This project specifically addresses three different primary ore types: (i) skarn, (ii) greisen and (iii) pegmatite. These ores carry significant potential for the extraction of Critical Raw Materials. Although these ore types are complex mineralogically and have variable metal grades they are of great strategic significance in relation to the overall resource balance of the EU. The project aims to increase the competitiveness of the mining of European mineral resources and to stimulate more private engagement and investment and thus business development with the potential to maintain and create high quality jobs within the EU28. The principal aim is to enhance mineral processing and mining skills within Europe while medium to long-term aim is to reduce the reliance of European Industry and consumers on raw materials that currently have to be imported from outside EU28. The objectives of the Project are: • Develop flexible modular and economic, mineral processing technologies for Greisen, Skarn and

Pegmatite ores that are environmentally benign • Carry out mineralogical investigations to assist selection of the best processing approach for the

ores • Create a new raw material base and awareness • Promote entrepreneurship and the (re) development of the EU mining and processing industry • Stimulate and develop job growth and expertise within the EU • Disseminate the findings and results through the FAME website and through marketing

activities. View FAME’s Public Deliverables here

FAME Closure Conference took place on 5-6 December 2018 in London. Read more here Website: http://www.fame-project.info 10. LOTER.CO2M - CRM-free Low Temperature Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to Methanol


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Objective - LOTER.CO2M aims to develop advanced, low-cost electro-catalysts and membranes for the direct electrochemical reduction of CO2 to methanol by low temperature CO2-H2O co-electrolysis. The materials will be developed using sustainable, non-toxic and non-critical raw materials. They will be scaled-up, integrated into a gas phase electrochemical reactor, and the process validated for technical and economic feasibility under industrially relevant conditions.

Status – Initial phase 11. EQUINOX


Objective: There is a need to find solutions to replace Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) such as Chromium, Nickel. The main objective of EQUINOX is to develop a novel process that allows to substitute Cr/Ni based (stainless) steel parts used in high volume end consumer products such as in the lock industry, electronics, process industry and automotive industry with a novel near net shape production technology for a new class of highly advanced ductile Fe-Al based intermetallics. Ductility at low to medium temperatures, while maintaining good tensile strength and optimum level of residual stress will be based on a radical new production process that use abundant raw material Fe3O4 and Al2O3.

Results: Project updates are described through newsletters – two newsletters have been currently published. Most work packages run for the whole project.

Read more here

Website: http://equinox-project.eu 12. PARTIAL-PGMs - Development of novel, high Performance hybrid TWV/GPF Automotive afteR treatment systems by raTIonAL design: substitution of PGMs and Rare earth materials

Start date: 01/04/2016 End date: 30/09/2019 Objective: To date, three-way catalytic converters (TWCs) have been established as the most effective engine exhaust after-treatment system. However, TWCs not only fail to address the issue of particulate matter (PM) emissions but are also the main industrial consumer of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) mainly Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) and Rare Earth elements (REEs), with the automotive industry accounting for 65%-80% of total EU PGMs demand. The enforcement of new limits on PM emissions (EURO 6c/7) will require higher TWC performance, hence leading to further increase the CRMs content in autocatalysts. Addressing the necessity of CRMs reduction in catalysis, PARTIAL-PGMs proposes an integrated approach for the rational design of innovative nanostructured materials of low/zero PGMs/REEs content for a hybrid TWC/Gasoline Particulate Filter (GPF) for automotive emissions after-treatment with continuous particulates combustion also focusing on identifying and fine-tuning the parameters involved in their preparation, characterization and performance evaluation under realistic conditions.

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PARTIAL-PGMs approach is broad, covering multiscale modeling, synthesis and nanomaterials’ characterization, performance evaluation under realistic conditions as well as recyclability, health impact analysis and Life Cycle Assessment. The compact nature of the new hybrid system will allow its accommodation in smaller cars but will also reduce cold start emissions and light-off times with performance aiming to anticipate both future emission control regulations and new advances in engines technology. Such R&D progress in autocatalysts is expected to pave the way to the widespread use of such low CRMs content materials in other catalytic applications

Read more here Website: http://www.partial-pgms.eu

13. PROMETHEUS - Platinum gRoup MEtals saving by monoliTHos Efficient and disrUptive catalySt innovation


Objective: The PROMETHEUS project will bring to the market a disruptive innovation, allowing for the first time to substitute up to 60% of PGMs used in autocatalysts with copper nanoparticles, while keeping the same performances and durability. Specifically, the PROMETHEUS project objectives are: • Industrialising PROMETHEUS production and demonstrate on large scale its performances.

PROMETHEUS has already been validated in the real environment with a key stakeholder (FIAT, Large multinational automotive industry) also supporting Phase 2

• Substituting 67% of PGMs used in autocatalysts with copper nanoparticles, saving up to 40 tonnes of PGMs per year, 2 times the current global deficit

• Decoupling Europe from a Critical Raw Material (PGMs), saving up to 60% of PGMs European demand per year (20 tonnes per year – the current global demand/supply deficit)

• Boosting European automotive and emission control catalyst markets. Copper costs ~6,800 times less than Platinum (4.5€/Kg against 30,550 €/Kg) which means that European industries can save almost €250 mln to be reinvested in RD&I and job growth

• Boosting MONOLITHOS growth. In 5 years after market introduction MONOLITHOS expects to have grown by 250% in personnel and achieve a total turnover of at least €100 mln

Website: http://prometheus-catalysts.eu

14. CREATE – Critical Raw materials Elimination by a top-down Approach To hydrogen and Electricity generation


The CREATE project aims at developing new concepts of hydrogen fuel cells and water electrolyzers based on polymer electrolytes with lower acidity than the ones currently in use. This approach will allow the use, combination and/or development of novel anode and cathode catalysts that are free of CRM (and especially free of PGM), or contain a much reduced CRM amount

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compared to today’s electrolyzers and fuel cells based on proton-conducting polymer-electrolyte membranes. Breakdown of the project’s work packages and achievements: WP1: PROJECT MANAGEMENT D.1.1 → Project shared workspace implemented and operational (PSW) - Confidential To fulfil two fundamental internal project communication requirements: i) efficient exchange between partners of information about CREATE project ii) decentralised and secured archiving of the documents generated, one independent and secured web-based communication tool: Project Shared Workplace – PSW has been implemented with a restricted access for project partners only. The PSW maintenance will continue throughout the project lifetime. WP2: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS, COST ANALYSIS AND LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS D.2.1 → Definition of test protocols - Confidential D.2.2 → Industrial requirements of polymer-based cells for hydrogen and electricity production - Confidential WP3: CATALYST SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISATION D.3.1 → CRM-FREE OER and HER catalyst to WP5 FOR AEMEL testing pdf D.3.2 → Set of CRM-free ORR catalyst and CRM-free or ultralow-PGM HOR catalyst with activity verified by RDE sent to WP5 for AEMFC testing - pdf WP4: IONOMER SYNTHESIS AND MEMBRANE PREPARATION D.4.1 → First generation of AEM & AEI materials for AEMFC and AEMEL - pdf WP5: CELL ASSEMBLY AND CELL TESTING In progress WP6: DISSEMINATION AND EXPLOITATION D.6.1 → Project website pdf D.6.2 → Dissemination and knowledge management protocol - Confidential Website: http://www.create-energy-h2020.eu/ 15. PEGASUS – PEMFC based on platinum Group metal free StrUctured cathodes


PEMFC is the fuel cell predilection technology for automotive applications with a large deployment horizon by 2025-30. However, the increasing use of fuel cell electrical vehicles is expected to lead to a quickly growing demand for Platinum Group Metals. PGM production raises questions of long-term availability due to the limitation of reserves and Europe’s economic dependence on the countries of the materials’ origin. Hence, it is of strategic importance that the transition to PGM-free catalysts is made as quickly as possible to ensure Europe's competitive position and to reduce market pressure on the use of scarce noble metals.

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In that perspective, PEGASUS is exploring the removal of Pt and other critical raw materials and their replacement by non-critical elements enabling efficient and stable electro-catalysis for performing and durable PEMFCs.

The overall aim of the project is to bring up the experimental proof of concept for novel catalysts with five underlying objectives supporting a full validation at single cell scale with a focus on the cathode side: 1) High performance, 2) durable and 3) low cost MEA using non-PGM catalysts-based cathode; 4) Robust test protocols for catalysts screening and 5) Understanding of degradation and prevention & mitigation strategies through a MEA design-driven approach.

PEGASUS will benchmark (Metal-Nitrogen-Carbon) materials with variants of Carbon supports and Catalyst Layer designs in order to reach the best compromises between chemical activities and mass/charge transfer with the support of intensive experimentation and modelling. Two generations of non-CRM catalysts will be proposed. GEN1 will implement metals {Fe, Mn or Cu} with Nitrogen onto (1D, 2D and 3D) structured carbon support (single structuration). GEN2 will investigate the enhancement of dual-structuration (1D+3D and 2D+3D) on catalyst stability, reactant availability and water management. See the new news section here 2019 Workshop on Material Challenges for Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Technologies will be hosted in Grenoble (France) in September 2019 Website: https://www.pegasus-pemfc.eu 16. CRESCENDO – Critical Raw material ElectrocatalystS replacement ENabling Designed pOst-2020 PEMFC


CRESCENDO will develop highly active and long-term stable electrocatalysts of non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) catalysts for the PEMFC cathode using a range of complementary and convergent approaches, and will re-design the cathode catalyst layer so as to reach the project target power density and durability requirements of 0.42 W/cm2 at 0.7 V, and 1000h with less than 30% performance loss at 1.5 A/cm2 after 1000 h under the FC-DLC, initially in small and ultimately full-size single cells tested in an industrial environment on an industrially scaled-up catalyst. The proposal includes the goal of developing non-PGM or ultra-low PGM anode catalysts with greater tolerance to impurities than current low Pt-loaded anodes. It will develop and apply advanced diagnostics methods and tests, and characterisation tools for determination of active site density and to better understand performance degradation and mass transport losses. The proposal builds on previous achievements in non-PGM catalyst development within all of the university and research organisation project partners. It benefits from the unrivalled know-how in catalyst layer development at JMFC and the overarching expertise at BMW in cell and stack testing, and in guiding the materials development to align with systems requirements. Deliverables: D.1.1 → Project shared workspace implemented and operational – Confidential D2.1 → Cell and system requirements and cell testing profiles pdf

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D3.1 → Site Density and Turnover frequency of Selected Benchmark Catalysts pdf D.4 → Ex situ AST peroxide protocol definition and its application to selected benchmark catalysts pdf D7.1 → Project Website pdf D.7.2 → Dissemination and knowledge management protocol – Confidential CRESCENDO will organise EFCD2019, the 2nd international conference Electrolysis and Fuel Cell Discussions - Towards Catalysts Free of Critical Raw Materials for Fuel Cells and Electrolysers, La Grande Motte, France, 15th-18th September 2019. EFCD 2019 is jointly organised with the European project, CREATE. More information here Website: http://www.crescendo-fuelcell.eu 17. ReFreeDrive


The ReFreeDrive project is focused on contributing to avoid the use of rare earth magnets through the development of a next generation of electric drivetrains, ensuring the industrial feasibility for mass production while focusing on the low cost of the manufacturing technologies.

This project will study and develop simultaneously two solutions for the power traction system of electrical vehicles. Both solutions are brushless AC electrical machines: induction machine with fabricated and copper die-cast rotor (IM) and synchronous reluctance (SynRel) machine. The design of the ReFreeDrive motors will take as a premise the reduction of use of materials, as more than half of the final price is formed by raw materials cost. Also, a minimization of manufacturing costs will be ensured by an early involvement of manufacturers, from the design stage. ReFreeDrive motor topologies have good room for cost reduction by off-setting permanent magnet use. However, it is not feasible to change the commodity prices for copper and steel. Therefore, one of the key avenues for cost reduction is the reduction of size through different techniques (outer rotor, higher rotational speed, compact winding…). Deliverables: All deliverables (Confidential and Public) here WP2 – D2.2. → ReFreeDrive testing vehicles: Driving Cycle – Report Downloads: All downloads here ReFreeDrive’s paper published at the 8th International Conference of Magnetism and Metallurgy (WMM), titled “High Performance Electrical Motors for Automotive Applications – Status and Future of Motors with Low Cost Permanent Magnets” is available here Website: http://www.refreedrive.eu/

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18. PLATIRUS – PLATInum group metals Recovery Using Secondary raw materials


The PLATIRUS project aims at reducing the European deficit of Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), by upscaling to industrial relevant levels a novel cost-efficient and miniaturised PGMs recovery and raw material production process. The targeted secondary raw materials will be autocatalysts, electronic waste (WEEE) and tailings and slags from nickel and copper smelters, opening-up an important range of alternative sources of these critical raw materials, with the potential to substitute a large amount of primary raw materials which are becoming more and more scarce in Europe. View Platirus’s November Newsletter here Website: http://www.platirus.eu 19. X-Mine project


The X-MINE project supports better resource characterization and estimation as well as more efficient ore extraction in existing mine operations, making the mining of smaller and complex deposits economically feasible and increasing potential European mineral resources (specifically in the context of critical raw materials) without generating adverse environmental impact. The project will implement large-scale demonstrators of novel sensing technologies improving the efficiency and sustainability of mining operations based on X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray Transmission (XRT) technologies, 3D vision and their integration with mineral sorting equipment and mine planning software systems. The project will deploy these technologies in 4 existing mining operations in Sweden, Greece, Bulgaria and Cyprus. The sites have been chosen to illustrate different sizes (from small-scale to large-scale) and different target minerals (zinc-lead-silver-gold, copper-gold, gold) including the presence of associated critical metals such as indium, gallium, germanium, platinum group metals and rare earth elements. Website: http://www.xmine.eu 20. DEMETER – European Training Network for the Design and Recycling of Rare-Erath Permanent Magnet Motors and Generation in Hybrid and Full Electric vehicles

Start date: 01/19/2015 End date: 30/08/2019 DEMETER, the European Training Network for the Design and Recycling of Rare-Earth Permanent Magnet Motors and Generators in Hybrid and Full Electric Vehicles, concurrently develops (1)

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innovative, environmentally-friendly direct and indirect recycling strategies for the permanent magnets in the motors and generators of (H)EVs that are currently already on the market and (2) design-for-reuse solutions for motors and generators in the (H)EVs of the future. An intersectoral and interdisciplinary consortium of leading EU universities, research institutes and manufacturers from the automotive and magnet sector trains 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs). The research challenges include the development of hydrogen-based grain-refinement technologies to produce nanograin magnets directly from scrap magnets, the recovery of rare earths from SmCo and NdFeB magnets of motors/generators by ionometallurgical methods, and the design of motors/generators with reusable magnets, where the designs are based on 2D and 3D flux paths as well as non-traditional materials. Networking on CRMs: NEMO, CROCODILE and DEMETER present! – Read more here ETN DEMETER CONCLUDING SYMPOSIUM – Event 5-7 February 2019 Website: https://etn-demeter.eu 21. CroCOdile – First of a kind commercial Compact system for the efficient Recovery of Cobalt Designed with the novel Integrated Leading technologies

Start date: 01/12/2017 End date: 30/11/2020 The CROCODILE project will showcase innovative metallurgical systems based on advanced pyro-, hydro-, bio-, iono- and electrometallurgy technologies for the recovery of cobalt and the production of cobalt metal and upstream products from a wide variety of secondary and primary European resources. CROCODILE will demonstrate the synergetic approaches and the integration of the innovative metallurgical systems within existing recovery processes of cobalt from primary and secondary sources at different locations in Europe, to enhance their efficiency, improve their economic and environmental values, and will provide a zero-waste strategy for important waste streams rich in cobalt such as batteries. Additionally, CROCODILE will produce a first of a kind economically and environmentally viable mobile commercial metallurgical system based on advanced hydrometallurgical and electrochemical technologies able to produce cobalt metal from black mass containing cobalt from different sources of waste streams such as spent batteries and catalysts. The new established value chain in this project will bring together for the first time major players who have the potential of supplying 10,000 ton of cobalt annually in the mid-term range from European resources, corresponding to about 65% of the current overall EU industrial demand. Therefore, the project will reduce drastically the very high supply risk of cobalt for Europe, provide SMEs with novel business opportunities, and consolidate the business of large refineries with economically and environmentally friendly technologies and decouple their business from currently unstable supply of feedstocks.

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The EU project CROCODILE has organised a session on Cobalt recovery during Going Green – CARE INNOVATION 2018 on November 28, 2018 in Vienna (Austria). Read more here Website: https://h2020-crocodile.eu 22. MIREU – Mining and Metallurgy Regions of EU

Start date: 01/06/2018 End date: 31/05/2022 The MIREU project aims to establish a network of mining and metallurgy regions across Europe with a view to ensure the sustained and sustainable supply of mineral raw materials to the EU. The network will help the regions to share knowledge and experiences when facing the challenge to establish and maintain an extractive industry. The project will develop a shared knowledge base, which will consider the region-specific geographic and economic features, cultural, societal and language diversity, and their historical developments. Further, MIREU will facilitate an exchange between all interested stakeholders in the regions, namely regulatory authorities, political and administrative bodies, development agencies, mining companies, non-government organisations, as well as the public.

Guidelines and recommendations for actions to be taken to foster a sustained and sustainable development of the extractive industries will be developed in close co-operation with a range of selected regions from the European Union.

The Kick-off meeting of the project was held on 9-10 January 2018.

The MIREU Regional Kick-Off Conference for the Region of Saxony, Germany, took place in Dresden on 1st March 2018.

Read more here

MIREU poster and leaflet were published in June.

The first high-level policy workshop dedicated to “Governance and Policy within Mining and…” will take place on 15 January 2019. Read more here

Website: https://www.mireu.eu 23. Intermin – International Network of raw materials training centres

Start date: 01/02/2018 End date: 31/01/2021 INTERMIN will create a self-sustainable long-term lasting international network of training centres for professionals. This project involves educational and research institutions in the EU and the leading counterparts in third countries, based on specific country expertise in the primary and secondary raw materials sectors. The network will map skills and knowledge in the EU and the third countries, identify key

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knowledge gaps and emerging needs, develop roadmap for improving skills and knowledge, as well as establish common training programmes in the raw materials sectors. In line with the EU's strategy for international co-operation in research and innovation (COM(2012)497), the consortium will seek international collaboration, fostering and exploring synergies with the relevant EU Member States initiatives

Work packages:

WP1 → Worldwide mapping of educational-research programs

Deliverables: 1. Skills catalogues for raw materials sector

2. Table of knowledge skills and subjects

WP2 → Raw materials sector skills, gaps and needs

WP3 → Towards enhanced training programmes

WP4 → Developing an international network of training centers

WP5 → Communication and Dissemination WP6 → Project Management Presentations: 1. Intermin caso de exito 2. Intermin presentation in temix igme gr Deliverables: Table of knowledge skills and subjects INTERMIN launches survey to compile a database on existing raw materials associated to education programmes. Learn more here Website: http://interminproject.org 24. Smart Exploration – Sustainable mineral resources by utilizing new Exploration Technologies


Smart Exploration consists of a research and application team supported by a group of technologically advanced SMEs and the mining industry.

The consortium will firstly focus on developing cost-effective, environmentally-friendly tools and methods for geophysical exploration in highly challenging brownfield areas where exploration expenditure is greater and the return time (from exploration to production) shorter. A second focus point will be long-term greenfield exploration with the aim of reducing exploration costs, implying significant improvement in development rates and a sustainable supply of raw materials at the same rate as the whole world wishes to grow. Therefore, new innovative ideas will also be tested for greenfield exploration to increase the potential of finding new major deposits of relevance to the EU.

The overall objectives of the tasks are to develop (1) cost-effective and innovative exploration instruments comprising airborne, surface, downhole and in-mine modular-based geophysical systems, (2) new exploration targets through multidisciplinary and integrated approaches, (3) novel reprocessing and handling of legacy exploration data that will generate additional information and targets for detailed exploration, and (4) validating all these developments, to maximize their

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impacts, at relevant exploration sites covering greenfield, near-mine and in-mine areas using known targets.

Work packages: WP1 → Management & Coordination

WP2 → New Instruments

WP3 → Advanced Subsurface Imaging and Modeling

WP4 → Data & Target Generation

WP5 → Validation

WP6 → Dissemination, Exploitation & Civil Society Engagement

WP7 → Ethics Website: https://smartexploration.eu/ 25. FORAM – Towards a world forum of raw materials


FORAM will develop and set up an EU-based platform of international experts and stakeholders that will advance the idea of a World Forum on Raw Materials (WFRM) and enhance the international cooperation on raw material policies and investments.

The FORAM project will contribute to consolidate the efforts towards a more joint and coherent approach towards raw materials policies and investments worldwide, by closely working with the relevant stakeholders in industry, European and international organisations, governments, academia and civil society. Synergies with relevant EU Member States initiatives will be explored and fostered.

The project will in particular seek to engage the participation of G20 Member countries and other countries active in the mining and other raw materials sectors, so that experiences will be shared and understanding of all aspects of trade in raw materials will be increased.

By implementing this project an EU-based platform of international key experts and stakeholders is created, related to the entire raw materials value chain. This platform will work together on making the current complex maze of existing raw material related initiatives more effective. As such, the FORAM project will be the largest collaborative effort for raw materials strategy cooperation on a global level so far. Work packages: WP1 → Inception & Baseline

WP2 → Structure & Dialogue

WP3 → Strategic Planning

WP4 → Roadmap & Pilot

WP5 → Communication & Outreach

WP6 → Project Management

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Deliverables: 1.1 → Mapping Raw Materials Initiatives – List of criteria 1.2 → Mapping Raw Materials Initiatives – Indicators and Metrics 1.3 → Mapping Raw Materials – Baseline report 2.1 → Raw Materials Stakeholder Network 2.2 → Global Cooperation on Raw Materials – Outcomes Stakeholder Consultation 3.1 → Global Raw Materials Policies 3.2 → Towards a Vision on Global Raw Materials Cooperation 3.3 → Towards a Vision on Global Raw Materials Cooperation 3.4 → Analytical Dashboard 4.1 → Roadmap for the Establishment of a World Forum on Raw Materials 4.2 → Towards Improved Global Raw Materials Cooperation – Meeting Report FORAM 18, Nancy 4.3 → Synthesis Report on Key Recommendations 5.1 → FORAM Disseminations and Exploitation Plan 5.2 → Establishment of a Common Graphical Identity 5.3 → Information Materials

All results on Mapping of initiatives and databases here

New FORAM video here

Website: http://www.foramproject.net/ 26. MIN Guide – Minerals Policy Guidance for Europe

Start date: 01/02/2016 End date: 31/01/2019 The MIN-GUIDE project addresses the need for a secure and sustainable supply of minerals in Europe by developing a ‘Minerals Policy Guide’. The functioning of European economies and, consequently, the well-being of societies is highly dependent on the long-term supply of natural resources and raw materials for production and use. However, access to non-energy mineral raw materials that constitute the basis of industrial value-chains is not stable and secure.

To secure minerals supply in Europe there is need of a policy framework promoting innovative and sustainable approaches to tackles challenges in the mining value chain. The MIN-GUIDE project has been designed to comprehensively tackle these challenges.

The project will link to the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials (EIP) by feeding back its results into EU policy process, and supports outreach activities and community building.

Results: Project deliverables here Country profiles here Project reports here Min-Guide has published its new newsletter → View the newsletter here

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The MIN-GUIDE Annual Conference 2018, entitled “The Future Perspective of Minerals Production in the Circular Economy”, took place in Brussels, Belgium on 11-12 December 2018. Presentations and more information here Website: http://www.min-guide.eu/ 27. METGROW PLUS – Metal Recovery from Low Grade Ores and Wastes Plus

Start date: 01/02/2016 End date: 31/01/2020 The primary objective of METGROW+ is to create, demonstrate and validate an industrially viable, flexible New Metallurgical Systems Toolbox, which allows to smartly combine pyro-, hydro-, electro-, bio-, solvo and ionometallurgical unit operations, as well all residual matrix valorisation technologies, to valorise EU’s low-grade, polymetallic primary and secondary resources. Results: Project deliverables here In collaboration with ETN SOCRATES, METGROW+ has published a Social License to Operate Policy Brief to reflect the key discussions that took place in the Symposium on Transitioning to a Low- Carbon Economy – the Social License to Operate for the Mining and Recycling of Critical Metals took place in Leuven, Belgium on 21 February 2018. The document discusses the Five Lessons Learned with respect to the Social License to Operate for the mining and recycling of critical metals, essential for the transition to a low-carbon economy. METGROW+ connects with EIT Raw Materials – read more here Website: http://metgrowplus.eu/ 28. ERA-MIN 2 – ERA-NET Cofund on Raw Materials

Start date: 01/12/2016 End date: 30/11/2021 ERA-MIN 2 is public-public partnerships based on the ERA-NET Cofund scheme under Horizon 2020. ERA-MIN 2 aims to implement a European-wide coordination of research and innovation programs on raw materials to strengthen the industry, competitiveness and the shift to a circular economy. The objective of the ERA-MIN 2 is to strengthen the coordination of national and regional research programmes in the field of non-energy non-agricultural raw materials by implementing several activities.

On 11th April 2018, the ERA-MIN 2 project was presented by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness of Spain during the Workshop 6: RTD and Innovation. More information here The Scientific Evaluation Board (SEB) members participating in ERA-MIN Joint Call 2017 are now available here

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The ERA-MIN Joint Call 2018 was presented at 2018 InfoDays H2020 SCA → Read more here Call text of ERA-MIN joint call 2018 updated → read more here

Call for raw materials commitments is now open → read more here

Website: https://www.era-min.eu

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