Neodymium is often used in gearless and hybrid turbines, particularly in the Chinese market through Goldwind's acquisition of 70% of German design firm Vensys. The Multibrid offshore turbine uses a permanent magnet generator, not certain if neodymium is used.
Most standard configuration turbines do not use permanent magnet generators at all. An exception is the Clipper 2.5 MW turbine, where the main shaft is split into four load paths to four smaller permanent magnet generators. Again, unclear if neodymium is used.
it is clear that one growing design trend in the industry is the use of permanent magnet generators, thus there will likely be more use of neodymium in the future. "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
neodymium, the pixie dust of green tech -- necessary for the lightweight permanent magnets that make Prius motors zoom and for the generators that give wind turbines their electrical buzz.
-- the word in contention being "necessary". (See Migeru's comment below.) Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.
