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ELKEM is one of the world´s leading companies for environment-friendly production of metals and materials.

The main products are silicon, solar grade silicon, special alloys for the foundry industry, micro silica and carbon. ELKEM is upgrading the HTE cell that was built and validated in the previously funded REE4EU project. The new REEPRODUCE’s HTE cell will be more automated, with special measures to attain the most favourable working environment, while doubling the metal throughput(20 ton RE alloy per year) compared to the REE4EU’s HTE cell.

What is the engineering strategy ELKEM is following to upgrade the existing HTE cell?

ELKEM has worked in close cooperation with Inovertis with the engineering for the upgraded HTE cell. In this context, SINTEF has given valuable input regarding process design, as well as discussed together with ELKEM the experience obtained from the REE4EU pilot validation trials. The team has worked continuously since the start of the project to upgrade the HTE cell and increase the automation for its operation.

Which steps in the electrolysis process will be automated?

The operation of the electrolysis cell in REE4EU involved several manual steps, such as RE oxide feeding and tapping of the produced metal alloy. REEPRODUCE aims for increased automation in these areas to make it more industrially viable. The feeding of Rare Earth Oxide (REO) to the HTE cell will be automatic, and the tapping operation will be carried out by robotics.

Do you think that the industrial RE metal/alloy production will be realised in Europe in the near future? What are the main show-stoppers?

RE alloys are important for a green and sustainable future. Recovering RE from waste streams to produce new materials has great potential. The main challenge is to find financial support to develop new industrial initiatives. EU-financing through projects such as REEPRODUCE, and other funding possibilities are very important in order to reach the sustainability goals.