GEL to establish new geothermal lithium extraction facility in Cornwall, UK

Geothermal Engineering Ltd. (GEL) has announced plans of establishing a lithium extraction facility at its United Downs site in Cornwall, UK which will utilize brine from its existing geothermal wells. The facility is expected to start commercial operations by 2029, producing around 1500 tonnes of  technical-grade lithium carbonate each year, or the equivalent requirement of 180,000 typical EV car batteries.

The news comes shortly after GEL made the announcement that it has produced lithium carbonate from geothermal brine at more than 99.3% purity, thus qualifying the product as ‘technical-grade.’ This means that it meets the purity requirements for battery producers, providing a pathway for GEL to supply lithium carbonate without the need for further refinement.

GEL will invest about £43 million in the new lithium extraction project, facilitated by a prior Offer in Principle worth nearly £10 million through the UK Government’s DRIVE35 Automotive Transformation Fund. The project is expected to create nearly 50 direct jobs and support around 80 more across the supply chain.

The facility to be built represents a significant increase in scale from GEL’s existing lithium demonstration plant in Cornwall, which is capable of producing 100 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually.

“Lithium is fundamental to the technologies underpinning the automotive sector’s transition to zero-emission vehicles. At GEL, we are proud to be at the forefront of establishing a new UK lithium industry, demonstrating how Cornwall’s geothermal brine can provide a reliable and sustainable source of this critical mineral,” said Dr Ryan Law, CEO of GEL.

The facility has the potential to scale to producing tens of thousands of tonnes in the future, and the lithium produced will give a huge boost to the UK’s EV battery manufacturing, shoring up crucial supply chains and moving Britain forward in the transition towards net zero.

With the demand for lithium expected to increase by 1100% by 2035, the UK Government has taken action to unlock nearly £230 million of private investment into two lithium projects in Cornwall and Teesside.

With the UK boasting amazing natural resources, and Cornwall at the centre of one of the most important historic mining regions in the UK and Europe, this investment will help unlock the South West’s industrial potential as part of the Prime Minister’s mission to reindustrialise the country.

Source: Geothermal Engineering Ltd.