Juicing Up Lower Saxony: The Promise of Lithium Extraction for Electric Vehicles
Scientists express enthusiasm for potential lithium extraction in Lower Saxony - Scientists express positivity regarding lithium extraction in Lower Saxony
Feeling positively charged, a team of researchers is buzzing about a pilot project aimed at extracting lithium—the lifeblood of electric vehicle batteries—in the lush Lüneburg Heath. For three pulsating weeks, ending in May, they've got 150°C hot water flowing from a depth of 3,800 meters, through an extraction facility. Their ambitious goal: to reduce the carbon footprint of lithium extraction.
"Lithium mining in Lower Saxony could have a low environmental impact," said project leader André Stechern of the "Li+Fluids" research project, during an invigorating site visit to the Horstberg drilling site in Eimke (district of Uelzen). Stechern believes that this would also help reduce dependency on supply chains, currently dominated by imports from Australia, Chile, and China.
From Gas Well to Lithium Wallet
Employing the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), operators of the research project and the keen users of an abandoned drilling site from a failed gas search, to extract this elusive raw material, the BGR aims to extract 70% or more of the lithium from a high concentration of 190 milligrams per liter. The BGR, under the Federal Ministry of Economics, finances this ambitious project.
"The question is, do I extract more lithium in a jiffy or if I leave it in contact with an ion sieve for a longer stretch?" Stechern explained, adding various strategies are being tested. "An aluminum-based sieve seems the most likely contender."
However, the potential German reserves are not sufficient to meet the escalating demand, as per BGR estimates. When paired with recycling, it could significantly reduce the need for imports.
The World at Large
Globally, lithium is becoming increasingly indispensable due to its role in lithium-ion batteries for electric mobility. By 2030, global demand could outstrip production by a factor of three, primarily driven by enlarging e-mobility needs. The potential for extraction in the North German Basin, from the Ems to Rostock, is promising.
- Lithium
- Lower Saxony
- Lüneburg Heath
- Pilot project
- Car
- Uelzen
Important to note, there isn't any specific information pertaining to lithium extraction in Lower Saxony, Germany. However, Germany is proactively involved in innovative approaches to lithium supply and energy storage. Cases in point: Vulcan Energy, a German-Australian firm, is trailblazing climate-neutral lithium extraction from thermal water in south-west Germany, not necessarily within Lower Saxony. This eco-friendly technology serves as an alternative to conventional mining methods.
Europe grapples with mining challenges due to environmental opposition, regulatory issues, and supply chain development delays[4]. However, solid-state batteries—like CERENERGY®—made from common salt, nickel, and ceramics, exhibit potential as a lithium-free, fully recyclable alternative for energy storage[2]. Innovative lithium extraction like Vulcan Energy's could be the beacon guiding sustainable lithium production in regions like Lower Saxony.
- The pilot project in Lower Saxony aims to extract lithium, a crucial component in electric vehicle batteries, from the Lüneburg Heath, with the hope of reducing the environmental impact compared to traditional mining methods.
- The BGR, under the Federal Ministry of Economics, is employing an abandoned drilling site for the extraction of lithium through various strategies, including the use of an aluminum-based sieve.
- Although the potential reserves in Lower Saxony may not be enough to meet the growing global demand for lithium, innovative technologies like Vulcan Energy's climate-neutral lithium extraction from thermal water in southwest Germany could pave the way for sustainable lithium production in regions like Lower Saxony, contributing to Germany's proactive involvement in lithium supply and energy storage solutions.
