LevertonHELM and EnBW have reached a significant milestone in lithium production, achieving a purity of over 99.5% for lithium carbonate extracted from geothermal resources. The collaboration leverages EnBW’s expertise in direct lithium extraction (DLE) from thermal water at their Bruchsal geothermal plant in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. LevertonHELM, a subsidiary of HELM AG, subsequently refined the lithium chloride solution at their facilities in Basingstoke, UK.
According to EnBW, the extracted lithium salt meets high-quality standards suitable for direct use in battery cathode materials. This approach marks a promising development in European lithium production, bypassing conventional mining methods in favor of utilizing geothermal brines.
Laura Herrmann, Project Manager Research and Development at EnBW, highlighted the exceptional lithium content in the geothermal water, noting its viability as a by-product from existing operations. Bart Vanden Bossche, Commercial Director at LevertonHELM, emphasized the synergies between EnBW’s DLE capabilities and LevertonHELM’s lithium processing expertise as pivotal in accelerating progress in this field.
The successful collaboration underscores a shared commitment to sustainable lithium production for electromobility and energy storage within Europe. Dr. Thomas Kölbel, an expert at EnBW, emphasized the critical role of lithium in advancing renewable energies and electromobility, stating, “We need energy storage technologies for the energy transition to succeed.”
Looking ahead, LevertonHELM and EnBW have expressed intent to continue their partnership, focusing on further enhancing the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide from local resources. Details of their future collaboration remain undisclosed as they aim to support Europe’s transition away from fossil fuels with locally sourced key raw materials.
