Evaluate the Local Impacts of Renewable Generation, Lifecycle Management, Land Governance, Water Resource Management, and What Approaches Exist Worldwide to Tackle This Issue

Rare-Earth-Free Induction Machines for Energy & Climate Security (REIM-ECS)

This group explores rare-earth-free motor technologies as sustainable alternatives for energy and climate security, linking component-level innovation with system-level resource governance.

Abstract: The transition to renewable energy requires not only the expansion of generation capacity, but also the adoption of technologies that are sustainable across their lifecycle and resilient to supply chain risks. In particular, the growing global demand for sustainable energy solutions underscores the urgency of reducing reliance on critical raw materials through the development of rare-earth-free motor technologies.

This proposed research will investigate the performance enhancement of both linear and rotating induction motors through innovations in the secondary element construction—specifically, the use of Fe–Cu alloys and copper-coated iron structures—as viable alternatives to permanent-magnet designs dependent on rare earth elements. The approach is expected to maintain the robustness and simplicity of induction motors while improving torque/thrust density, efficiency, and thermal stability, thereby reducing the environmental footprint of industrial and transport applications.

To ensure a comprehensive assessment, a lifecycle analysis of these novel machine designs will be integrated with broader evaluations of renewable generation impacts, including land governance, water resource management, and end-of-life strategies. By linking component-level innovation with system-level sustainability, the research aims to demonstrate how technological substitution in critical equipment and effective resource governance can jointly strengthen energy and climate security. The anticipated outcomes will provide scalable and cost-effective pathways for sustainable electrification, aligning with both national and global energy transition priorities.