Vulcan Energy reports progress on geothermal lithium operations in Germany
Vulcan Energy's Lithium Extraction Optimization Plant in Landau, Germany (source: Vulcan Energy)
Carlo Cariaga
17 Apr 2024
Vulcan Energy has reported the first production of Lithium Chloride from their extraction and optimization facility in Landau, Germany.
Vulcan Energie Ressourcen GmbH (Vulcan Energy) has recently made two announcements on their geothermal lithium operations in Germany – the first extraction of lithium chloride from the company’s Landau facility, and the topping-out ceremony of their facility in Frankfurt-Höchst.
The Lithium Extraction Optimization Plant (LEOP) in Landau has officially entered the production phase, having produce Lithium Chloride (LiCl) for the first time. Early results using the Adsorption-type Direct Lithium Extraction (A-DLE) unit indicates lithium extraction efficiency that is consistently over 90%, in line with commercial plant expectations and Vulcan’s financing model.
The LEOP was officially opened in 2023, and was recognized recently by the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) as the recipient of the 2024 Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award.
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 LEOP will serve as an optimization and operation training and product qualification testing facility, eventually creating operational readiness for the Phase One commercial facility.
The LiCl produced at the LEOP will then be transported to the Central Lithium Electrolysis Optimisation Plant (CLEOP) in Frankfurt-Höchst for processing. In this facility, the LiCl will be converted to battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate (LHM). Vulcan Energy had also recently celebrated the Topping-Out Ceremony at the CLEOP, signifying the installation of the highest point of facility’s structural frame.
The CLEOP is expected to be operational by mid-2024. At this point, Vulcan Energy would have had created the first fully integrated supply chain for lithium battery chemical in Europe with the co-production of renewable energy and heat. The commercial-scale production capacity aims for 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per annum.
