The INSPIREE Project

According to the Critical Raw Materials Act, by 2030 the EU must obtain 25% of its annual demand for Critical Raw Materials (CRM) from recycling, in order to reduce dependence on imports of these materials.
The INSPIREE project will address this challenge by creating an industrial plant for the recovery of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from end-of-life permanent magnets (PMs) extracted from hard drives and electric motors.

 

The industrial scale-up of the end-of-life PM value chain will take place through a two-level process: Level I: disassembly of magnets at the Glob Eco facility; Level II: recovery of REE oxalates through hydrometallurgy at the Itelyum plant. The Level I facility will have a dismantling capacity of 1,000 tons/year of electric rotors, while the Level II plant will process 2,000 tons/year of PMs, resulting in the recovery of approximately 700 tons/year of REE oxalates.

INSPIREE is based on solid knowledge of the value chain and processes, developed also through the construction of the pilot plant within the New-RE project. The transfer of know-how and technologies from one project to the other will be addressed in a dedicated Work Package, which will then feed into three technical WPs aimed at the industrial plant start-up and oxide production.

The social and environmental impacts of the proposed process will also be assessed, and the LIFE program KPIs to be achieved during the project will be defined. The output materials, REE oxides and carbonates, could be commercialized even before the end of the project, given the strong interest already shown by major players in the supply chain.

Li

REEs

PGMs

CU, NI, PGMs

Work Breakdown Structure

Leader: UNIVAQ

The main objectives of WP1 are to define the design of the industrial process, leveraging the results of the first year of New-RE and a feasibility study, and to obtain authorization for the construction of Level I and Level II plants. Activities include analyzing the New-RE project to establish optimized conditions for the industrial plant, drafting the Basic Design Engineering (BDE) report, and securing environmental permits from the competent regional authorities.

Leader: Itelyum

WP2 focuses on the commissioning of the Level I plant for the thermal pre-treatment of PMs and the Level II hydrometallurgical plant. Activities include organizing public tenders for the construction and commissioning of the plants, ensuring operational readiness and compliance with project specifications, selecting technology suppliers, executing the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) phase, and managing the start-up and commissioning process.

Leader: Itelyum

The aim of WP3 is to start the production of REE oxides and/or oxalates, optimizing process conditions and validating the products with end users. Activities include testing production optimization methods to ensure output rates meet the project’s maximum capacity, characterizing raw materials, products, waste, and wastewater, and consolidating data useful for the other WPs.

Leader: Erion

WP4 focuses on analyzing the results of the New-RE project and the market opportunities it has generated, consolidating the supply chain, and preparing reports on the project’s replication and transfer potential, along with a comprehensive business plan. Activities include evaluating the feasibility and commercial sustainability of the solutions developed within New-RE, and preparing for their broader implementation.

Leader: UNIVAQ

WP5 focuses on monitoring and evaluating the environmental and socio-economic impacts of INSPIREE, through assessments of the plant’s energy and environmental performance, as well as analyses of the social and economic impacts of adopting circular models in industry.

Leader: Erion

WP6 aims to communicate and disseminate the project’s results through various channels, ensuring visibility and impact. Activities include creating and promoting a dedicated project website, engaging stakeholders via social media and events, and participating in international conferences to foster networking and partnerships.

Leader: Itelyum

WP7 focuses on project coordination and management to ensure effective and proactive execution. This includes administrative and financial management, monitoring of the project and its milestones, technical and financial reporting, and planning of post-project activities. These actions ensure compliance with the project’s objectives, timelines, and budget, while also implementing risk mitigation and conflict resolution measures.