Let's Talk Lithium: Neptune Energy's Radical Lithium Extraction Pilot in the Altmark
Lithium Mining Expansion: New Pilot Plant Commissioned in Altmark Region - Lithium Mining's Second Test Facility Begins Operations in Altmark Region
Get ready to ride the electric revolution, folks! Neptune Energy, a clever bunch of energy titans, have cooked up a game-changer in the quaint Altmark region of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. They're harnessing the power of geothermal water from old gas wells to extract lithium, a key ingredient in those sleek electric vehicle batteries.
Pretty cool, huh? But don't just take Neptune's word for it. They've no plans to rest on their laurels. Over the next few months, they'll be testing different whiz-bang technologies, hoping to find the most eco-friendly method to strip lithium from that deep, hot water. And if you thought they started this journey on a whim, they actually began last year with a trial run, planting the seeds for this ambitious project.
So, where's all this take place? In the district of Steinitz, nestled within the Hanseatic city of Salzwedel. Now, this isn't just some backwater, folks. Neptune has been staking its claim on this patch of earth since 1969, pumping out the natural gas with skilled precision. With their fingertips already on the pulse of this soil, they're now setting sights on the lithium riches hidden within.
Lithium? You might ask, what's the big deal? Well, hold on to your hats, folks, because this baby's crucial for energy storage in those electric vehicles of the future. And with Neptune aiming to crack open the altmark, they're estimating a whopping 25,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate could be siphoned annually, ready to juice up enough batteries to keep half a million electrics charging down the autobahn.
But things ain't all sunshine and rainbows. Seems the locals aren't exactly on board with this lithium rave. Ever since Neptune dropped the news back in April 2021, more than 22,000 strong-willed souls have signed a petition against mining in the region and the nearby Lüneburg Heath.
However, Neptune ain't never been one to shy away from a challenge. They're banking on their existing knowledge of the Altmark soil and infrastructure—which they've been lovingly wooing since the late 60s, I might add—to catapult their plans towards a commercial-scale lithium production facility, should this pilot play out as planned.
- Altmark
- Lithium
- Resource
- Energy company
- Electromobility
- Geothermal energy
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE)
- Lilac Solutions
- Geolith Technology
[1] Geolith has previously demonstrated the extraction of lithium carbonate with a yield of up to 1,000 tons per year, from a single well, with a purity of 99.9%, suitable for lithium-ion batteries.[2] Neptune Energy partners with Californian company Lilac Solutions, who provide a mobile container plant that processes thermal water onsite and produces lithium chloride, which is then converted into a concentrate and ultimately processed into battery-grade lithium carbonate.[3] An Environmental Impact Assessment is currently underway to gauge the project's effects on the local ecosystem.
- The energy company, Neptune Energy, is partnering with Lilac Solutions to extract lithium from geothermal water in the Altmark region of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, as they aim to contribute to the growing demand for lithium in electric vehicle batteries.
- The project, which involves the use of Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, could potentially yield up to 25,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate annually, making Neptune Energy a significant player in the lithium industry and a key contributor to electromobility.
