As functional modified materials, rare earth elements play a key role in many links of the new energy industry. The innovative development of new rare earth materials is of great significance for improving the production conversion efficiency of new energy, optimizing storage and transmission efficiency, and serving new energy terminal equipment.

Since modern times, mankind has experienced three industrial revolutions, the essence of which is the innovation of energy and materials. The emergence of intelligent equipment driven by artificial intelligence technology has turned the driving force into green renewable energy, greatly liberating human productivity, which also indicates that the "intelligent" era is coming. This energy revolution will bring about all-round innovation in energy production, energy storage, energy transmission and energy terminal use.

The research and development of high-tech products is inseparable from rare earth materials. A pure electric new energy vehicle requires about 3 kg to 10 kg of rare earths, each megawatt wind turbine requires about 200 kg of rare earths, the Patriot missile guidance system requires about 3 kg of neodymium iron boron magnets, an F35 aircraft requires 17 kg of rare earths (including Eu, Tb, Dy, Y, Lu, etc.), and each Toyota hybrid vehicle uses 9.07 kg to 12.70 kg of rare earths. Many components are made of rare earth materials. NdFeB permanent magnets are used in wind turbines. Most rare earth elements are needed in 3C electronic consumer products.

At the renewable energy generation end, wind power, hydropower, solar energy, hydrogen production and other industries require rare earth permanent magnets, luminescent and catalytic materials, and the preparation of these functional materials requires rare earth elements such as Nd, Tb, and Dy; at the energy storage end, batteries, hydrogen storage and other industries require rare earth permanent magnets and alloy materials, and the development of these functional materials requires rare earth elements such as La and Ce; at the renewable energy transmission and conversion end, smart grids, motors and other industries require support from rare earth crystals, superconductors, catalytic materials, and the preparation of these materials requires rare earth elements such as Sc, Y, and Lu.