We've been following this one for a while, some links below.
From Reuters, April 10:
Lithium supplier Vulcan Energy on Wednesday announced the start of production of the first lithium chloride at its extraction plant in Germany using geothermal energy, an essential step toward producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide.
"To the best of our knowledge, it is the first locally produced resource, meaning that the lithium comes from Germany, from the resource underneath our feet," Vulcan Energy Chief Executive Cris Moreno told Reuters.Vulcan Energy has obtained licences for more than 1,000 kilometres of land in Germany's Upper Rhine Valley region to extract super-hot lithium-rich brine from underground reservoirs, using the heat to produce electricity and draw out lithium from the brine.The European Union has set targets to dig up, recycle and refine lithium, cobalt and other metals it needs for its green transition, but a shortage of new money, crippling energy costs and local opposition could put them beyond reach....
....MUCH MORE
Other than that, clear sailing?
Actually Vulcan's progress has impressed this rather jaded observer. Previously:
Actually Vulcan's progress has impressed this rather jaded observer. Previously:
July 2021: "Peugeot, Jeep, Dodge, Maserati-Maker Stellantis: New Models, New Sources of Lithium (STLA)
Stellantis, the world's fourth-largest automaker with brands that include Jeep and Peugeot, has signed memorandums of understanding for lithium supply with geothermal brine projects in California and Germany, according to two sources.....
Stellantis, the world's fourth-largest automaker with brands that include Jeep and Peugeot, has signed memorandums of understanding for lithium supply with geothermal brine projects in California and Germany, according to two sources.....
September 2022: "Which country produces the essential metals for clean energy?":
....There's lithium in Germany. it seeps into the Rhine but the Green's don't want to use it.
They may be trying to keep the Dutch downstream calm.
Or something....
....There's lithium in Germany. it seeps into the Rhine but the Green's don't want to use it.
They may be trying to keep the Dutch downstream calm.
Or something....
February 2023: "Vulcan Energy to mine 60% more German lithium than planned":
I thought the Greens in the government were trying to shut this down.
I thought the Greens in the government were trying to shut this down.
