Geothermal & lithium operator awarded new lithium license in Bas-Rhin, France
Wineyards in the Alsace, France (source: flickr/ moedermens, creative commons)
Carlo Cariaga
20 Feb 2024
Geothermal heat and lithium operator Lithium de France, subsidiary of Arverne, has been awarded a new lithium license in the Bas-Rhin region of France.
Lithium de France has been awarded a new “lithium and related substances” license for a 151-sq. km. parcel in the Bas-Rhin region of France. This is the fourth license awarded to the company previously known as Arverne Geothermal before a rebranding that emphasized a renewed focus on combined geothermal and lithium work.
Lithium de France is a subsidiary of the Arverne Group, a multi-disciplinary energy transition group specializing in geothermal energy. Lithium de France had already launched a number of subsurface studies and exploration campaigns in Northern Alsace, collecting information for mapping of a significant of the subsurface covered by previously awarded licenses.
Integrated across the entire value chain and using innovative processes, Arverne Group’s ambition is to combine the production of local renewable heat from geothermal energy with the extraction and processing of geothermal lithium for the electric car industry.
Through its subsidiaries, the Group has a portfolio of 9 exclusive research licenses – including 7 for geothermal energy and 2 for lithium – located in three different regions (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Grand Est), covering more than 2,000 km² in France.
“This new license, which mirrors the exclusive “Les Poteries” geothermal exploration license granted last August, is a major step forward for Lithium de France’s teams. We are delighted to have been awarded this license and will be continuing our work with local stakeholders to contribute to the decarbonization of the French energy mix by developing geothermal projects and domestic production of geothermal lithium,” said Pierre Brossollet, Chairman and CEO of Arverne Group.
In late 2023, Arverne entered the Euronext stock market looking to raise EUR 150 million to acquire additional rigs and push the development of its geothermal business.
