Circular Niobium

这项可行性研究将评估开发铌产品回收价值链的经济、技术和环境机会。在全球范围内，约有0.3%的铌被回收制成铌产品，这种产品来源于高含量的铌产品，如超导电磁铁。铌在钢铁等产品中的含量非常少，约为0.1%。虽然铌产品在英国的消费价值很小，但其影响很大，因为它导致高性能钢和电池等新应用，其中铌轴承应用对英国GVA的贡献估计为135亿英镑。诸如高容量和高充电率电池等新兴应用正在使用铌。英国和欧洲没有活跃的主要能源来源，这给一个战略重点领域造成了理论上的脆弱性。这项可行性研究旨在了解再生铌与初级铌的案例，并制定迈向二级铌市场的路线图。铌的行业用户需要对供应有信心，并确保以负责任的方式采购，包括通过回收利用。投资者、原始设备制造商和政府都迫切希望确保环境社会治理（ESG）的影响在供应链中得到考虑和缓解。该项目支持Met4Tech循环经济中心的目标。

This feasibility study will assess the economic, technical and environmental opportunity to develop a value chain for the recycling of niobium products.Globally about 0.3% of niobium is recycled back to a niobium product, which is derived from high content niobium products such as superconducting electromagnets. Niobium is present in very small quantities, ~0.1%, in items such as steel. Although the value of niobium products consumed in the UK is small their impact is high as it leads to high performance steels and new applications such as batteries where the contribution to UK GVA of niobium bearing applications is estimated at £13.5bn. Emerging applications such as high capacity and high charge rate batteries are using niobium.The UK and Europe have no active primary source, and this creates a theoretical vulnerability for an area of strategic emphasis. This feasibility study seeks to understand the case for recycled vs primary and to develop a roadmap towards a market in secondary niobium.Industry users of niobium need to have confidence in supply and to ensure that they are sourced in a responsible way including through recycling. Investors, OEMs and governments are keen to ensure that Environmental Social Governance (ESG) impacts have been considered and mitigated through the supply chain.This project supports the objectives of the Met4Tech Circular Economy Centre.