Wind energy is a clean and sustainable resource, which belongs to a transformation form of solar energy. According to the analysis of the World Meteorological Organization and the Institute of Meteorological Sciences of the China Meteorological Administration, the available wind energy resources on the earth are 20 billion kW. Compared with traditional energy, wind energy has become one of the most widely developed and applied renewable energy and an important component of the development and utilization of renewable energy in the world. Its development is gradually changing from complementary energy to alternative energy, thanks to its huge reserves, no environmental costs such as carbon emissions, high degree of automation, no fuel price risk, and continuous reduction of electricity cost, Its application is an important driving force to promote energy structure optimization and energy low-carbon. In the context of the transformation of the global energy structure to low-carbon, China's encouragement of the development of the wind energy industry is of great positive significance for optimizing the energy structure, achieving carbon peak and carbon neutral, and improving the quality of economic development. The trend of sustainable growth of the wind energy industry is highly certain.
The wind power generation field is one of the downstream fields with the largest consumption of NdFeB permanent magnet materials at present. At present, there are mainly two types of wind turbines: doubly fed and direct driven permanent magnet. NdFeB permanent magnet materials are mainly used in direct driven permanent magnet wind turbines. The NdFeB permanent magnet materials used to manufacture direct driven permanent magnet wind turbines are about 0.67t/MW. The current market penetration rate of direct driven permanent magnet wind turbine is about 30%, and its market share will directly affect the market demand of NdFeB permanent magnet materials in the wind power field.
The doubly fed model has mature technology and is currently the mainstream model of wind power technology. It consists of a wound type asynchronous generator with stator winding directly connected to a fixed frequency three-phase power grid and a bidirectional back-to-back IGBT voltage source converter installed on the rotor winding. Direct driven permanent magnet wind turbine is a new technology emerging in recent years. Due to a series of advantages such as high power generation efficiency, long life, high stability, high grid compatibility, and simple structure, it has become the development direction of wind power technology in the future []. Especially in the field of offshore wind power application, due to the inconvenience of operation and maintenance, the reliability of wind turbines is required to be high. The gearbox in doubly fed wind turbines is prone to failure, while the direct driven wind turbines do not include gearbox, which has higher reliability, and are more widely used in offshore wind power.
According to the statistics of GWEC, in 2020, the new installed capacity of global wind power will be 93GW, with a year-on-year growth of 52.96%. The cumulative installed capacity will be 743GW, with a year-on-year growth of 14.31%. The new installed capacity of offshore wind power will reach 6.1GW, showing a rapid growth trend.
China is the world's largest wind power market, with rich wind resources. The Chinese government regards wind power generation as one of the main alternative energy technologies to improve the energy structure, cope with climate change and national energy security issues, and has given long-term strong support to the wind power industry. According to the 13th Five Year Plan for Wind Power Development (November 2016) issued by the National Energy Administration, China must accelerate the development of renewable energy industries such as wind power in order to achieve the goals of 15% and 20% of primary energy consumption of non fossil energy in 2020 and 2030, and promote energy transformation. The development of the national wind power industry has a clear guiding ideology and clear development goals: first, in terms of the total target, by the end of 2020, the cumulative grid connected installed capacity of wind power will be guaranteed to reach more than 210 million kW; The annual power generation of wind power is guaranteed to reach 420 billion kWh, accounting for about 6% of the total national power generation; Second, in terms of consumption and utilization goals, by 2020, the problem of wind abandonment will be effectively solved, and the "three north" areas will fully meet the requirements for minimum guaranteed acquisition utilization hours; Third, in terms of industrial development goals, the manufacturing level and R&D capacity of wind power equipment have been continuously improved, 3-5 equipment manufacturing enterprises have reached the international advanced level in an all-round way, and their market shares have been significantly improved.
According to the statistics of the National Energy Administration, 71.67GW of new wind power installed capacity will be increased nationwide in 2020, which is higher than the sum of the three years from 2017 to 2019 (61.42GW), with a year-on-year growth of 178.44%; The cumulative installed capacity of wind power is about 281.72GW, with a year-on-year growth of 34.12%, maintaining a stable growth trend. From 2010 to 2020, the average annual compound growth rate of new wind power installed capacity in China is 17.75%. On October 14, 2020, the Beijing Declaration on Wind Energy proposed that in the future, China's annual installed capacity should be at least 50GW. After 2025, China's annual installed capacity should be no less than 60GW. By 2030, China's cumulative installed capacity of wind power will reach at least 800GW and at least 3000GW by 2060. In addition, the overall new installed capacity of global wind turbines in the future is expected to maintain a rapid growth rate, while the penetration rate of direct driven permanent magnet wind turbines will also increase year by year, which will continue to drive the demand for NdFeB permanent magnetic materials in the wind power field.

NdFeB (Neodymium Iron Boron) magnets have found wide applications in the field of wind power generation, particularly in the semi-direct and direct drive motors. These magnets are known for their high magnetic properties, excellent corrosion resistance, and low cost compared to other magnet materials.

Semi-direct drive wind turbines are designed with a gearbox in-between the blades and the generator. The gearbox is used to increase the rotational speed generated by the blades, enabling the generator to produce higher output power. NdFeB magnets are used in the direct drive generator to generate electricity in this system. The use of NdFeB magnets ensures that the generator is lightweight and compact while achieving high output power.

Direct drive wind turbines, on the other hand, have eliminated the need for a gearbox. This design simplifies the turbine assembly, reduces maintenance costs, increases efficiency, and extends the life of the turbine. The NdFeB magnets used in direct drive wind turbines are typically large in size but have the same magnetic properties as the smaller ones. In addition, with surface treatment such as Ni, Zn or epoxy coating, they resist corrosion and ensure long-term stability.

The performance grade of NdFeB magnets in wind turbines is dependent on their maximum energy product and their coercivity. Magnets with a higher maximum energy product generate more power while magnets with a high coercivity will maintain their magnetic strength for a long time. The maximum energy product of NdFeB magnets can be between 27 and 55 MGOe, and their coercivity can be between 10 and 30 kOe.

Surface electroplating is an essential process in the production of NdFeB magnets for use in wind turbines. This process is done to improve the surface properties of the magnet and enhance its corrosion resistance. The process typically involves coating the surface of the magnet with various metals such as nickel, zinc or epoxy. The thickness of the coating depends on the intended use of the magnet. The coating also serves as a barrier between the magnet and the surrounding environment, protecting it from humid or acidic conditions.

Zhejiang Zhongke Magnetic Industry Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of NdFeB magnets in China. The company has advanced technology and equipment, a professional technical team, and strong production capacity. The plant is equipped with advanced manufacturing equipment such as vacuum melting furnaces, hot isostatic pressing machines, and automatic molding machines, which has enabled the company to produce high-quality NdFeB magnets for wind power generation.

Zhejiang Zhongke Magnetic Industry Co., Ltd. has a strong advantage in terms of product quality, reputation, and after-sales service. The company has obtained international certification such as RoHS and REACH, which further ensures the quality of the magnet products. The company also provides technical support to its clients, ensuring the efficient integration of the magnets into their products and systems.

In conclusion, NdFeB magnets have become essential components in wind power generation, particularly in semi-direct and direct drive motors. The magnets have high magnetic properties, excellent corrosion resistance, and are economical compared to other magnet materials. The performance grade of the magnets is determined by their maximum energy product and their coercivity. Moreover, surface electroplating treatments such as nickel, zinc or epoxy coating enhances the magnet's corrosion resistance, ensuring their long-term stability. Zhejiang Zhongke Magnetic Industry Co., Ltd. is a reliable manufacturer of NdFeB magnets and has advanced manufacturing technology, technical support, and excellent product quality.