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The Zero Carbon Lithium™ Project, led by the borrower Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd., is a first-phase development primarily located in the Upper Rhine Valley and Frankfurt, Germany, which aims to produce 24 kt/yr of battery-quality lithium hydroxide (LiOH) for use in EV batteries.The project seeks to combine the extraction of lithium from underground brine with associated geothermal plants under a closed fluid cycle, a lithium extraction plant and a refining plant. It will also produce electricity to cover most of its own consumption and heat for district heating in nearby towns, thereby targeting net-zero emissions. The project components include deep geothermal wells, a Geothermal Lithium Extraction Plant (GLEP) in Landau, and a Central Lithium Plant (CLP) in Industrial Park Höchst in Frankfurt where the lithium chloride is converted to battery-grade LiOH
The project will be mostly located in the Upper Rhine Valley of Germany, which is Europe's largest lithium resource. Its scope corresponds to the first phase of a larger development scheme and it will benefit from the experience of an existing demo-plant.
The production of battery grade lithium LHM - a critical raw material to be used in particular to for EV batteries - will contribute to the EU's green transition and to the achievement of the European Green Deal ambition to become climate neutral by 2050. As such, the project is in line with the EU Key Enabling Technologies and Strategic Energy Technology Plan objectives, contributing to increased EU autonomy and resilience in industrial ecosystems for e-mobility and batteries.
The project falls under Main Policy Priority area (Environment and resources / Sustainable critical raw materials value chain) for projects supporting the sustainable supply and processing of critical primary raw materials with the main objective of building production capacity for the purpose of large-scale competitive commercialisation.
Induced Seismicity by the gepothermal plants is identified as a key social concern and risk among public and community stakeholders. Public opposition in the region often traces back to historic seismic events related to shallow geothermal wells in Basel (2007) and Landau (2009).
Other impacts include temporary nuisances during construction (noise and dust), increased road traffic, visual impacts, and land take affecting agricultural and recreational areas
The project passes through six municipalities in Rhineland-Palatinate: Landau in the Palatinate, Billigheim-Ingenheim, Impflingen, Insheim, Rohrbach, and Herxheim by Landau/Palatinate. The main Project Affected Communities (PAPs/local residents within the Area of Influence - AoI) are located within the settlements of Landau, Moerlheim, Offenbach, Rohrbach, Billigheim-Ingenheim, Impflingen, and Insheim. No residential buildings are located within the direct AoI. Other potentially affected groups include local community leaders, tourists, and farmers.
As stated by Bloomberg, Vulcan Energy Resources Limited is aiming to produce a battery-quality lithium hydroxide chemical product with a net zero carbon footprint from its combined geothermal and lithium resource in the Upper Rhine Valley of Germany.
| Private Actor 1 | Private Actor 1 Role | Private Actor 1 Sector | Relation | Private Actor 2 | Private Actor 2 Role | Private Actor 2 Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd. | Client | Energy |
No project contacts provided at the time of disclosure.
Borrower - Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd.:
Address: Amalienbadstraße 41, Bau 52, 76227 Karlsruhe, Germany
Email: info@v-er.eu
Phone: +49 (0) 721 480 70200
Website: https://v-er.eu/
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.eib.org/en/infocentre/registers/request-form/request-form-default.htm
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