Vulcan Energy signs MOU with ABB for Germany geothermal lithium project
ABB signs MOU with Vulcan Energy to support the Zero Carbon Lithium project in Germany (source: ABB)
Carlo Cariaga
29 Apr 2024
Vulcan Energy has signed an MOU with ABB for engineering solutions to support the Zero Carbon Lithium project in Germany.
Multi-industry technology company ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Vulcan Energy to jointly establish design, engineering, execution, and operations plans for the latter’s Zero Carbon Lithium project in the Upper Rhine Region in Germany.
The agreement sets out how ABB will collaborate with Vulcan to identify, pursue and secure opportunities to deliver electrification and automation for the project. This will also involve early involvement with the EPCm contractors and technology providers for the overall project.
Over the short term, the collaboration will enable the clarification of design principles, standards and interfaces, as well as early design and optimization in electrification and automation for process and power. Furthermore, the two companies aim to go beyond project completion, extending to operational support and continuous performance improvement initiatives throughout the lifecycle of the plant.
“This MoU marks the beginning of a promising long-term collaboration between Vulcan and ABB,” said Cris Moreno, Managing Director and CEO, Vulcan. “We are delighted to have ABB as a key partner in delivering world-leading solutions for Phase One of our integrated renewable energy and ZERO CARBON LITHIUM™ Project and beyond, reflecting our joint commitment to innovation and sustainability.”
“ABB’s MoU with Vulcan Energy Resources exemplifies our united commitment to driving innovation and growth in the battery manufacturing landscape,” said Michael Marti, Global Business Line Manager, Growth Industries, ABB Process Industries.
“The potential outcomes from ABB’s new initiatives with Vulcan are exciting because our joint approach, expertise, and technologies will impact on further developing battery manufacturing for commercial and domestic end users. The actions we take today aim to ensure secure and steady energy provision into the 2030s.”
Vulcan Energy recently announced the first extraction of lithium chloride from the company’s Lithium Extraction Optimization Plant (LEOP) in Landau, Germany. The Start of Production (SOP) follows over three years and more than 10,000 hourse of in-house pilot test by Vulcan, as well as more than EUR 40 million in investment. The LiCl produced at the LEOP will then be transported to the Central Lithium Electrolysis Optimisation Plant (CLEOP) in Frankfurt-Höchst for processing.
Vulcan is focused on delivering the world’s first integrated renewable energy and ZERO CARBON LITHIUM™ Project by adapting existing technologies to efficiently extract lithium from geothermal brine. It aims to deliver a local source of sustainable lithium for Europe, built around a carbon neutral strategy with exclusion of fossil fuels.
Source: ABB
