Fraunhofer: Sufficient lithium in Germany

07.03.2025

Source: E & M powernews

A research project involving the Fraunhofer IEG has investigated the potential of lithium from deep waters. It is huge.

There is probably enough lithium stored underground in Germany to meet the country's demand. This is the result of the "Li+Fluids" research project, as announced by the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies (IEG). The German Mineral Resources Agency puts the demand for lithium at up to 0.17 million tons by 2030, while the researchers assume a possible deposit of 0.39 to 26.51 million tons of lithium.

The "Li+Fluids" project examined the potential for lithium extraction from hydrothermal fluids in the North German Basin and the Thuringian Basin, among others. One possibility for economically viable lithium extraction is the combination with existing geothermal plants, which are currently primarily used for district heating.

Katharina Alms, project manager at Fraunhofer IEG: "In order to "increase the economic efficiency of lithium extraction", the lithium dissolved in the fluid can be separated from the extracted hot deep water for heat generation in a secondary process. In order for such a system to be economical, certain geological conditions must be met - including a sufficiently high flow rate of the underground water, the expert continues.

The town of Munster in Lower Saxony provides a practical example. The local municipal utilities are converting a former natural gas well for geothermal energy. From 2026, it will supply 4,000 households with district heating. At the same time, the municipal utilities are planning to extract up to 500 tons of lithium from the deep water every year.

Lithium is already being extracted from deep geothermal energy

In addition to the work in the North German Basin, there are already various initiatives to extract lithium. The best-known project is that of Vulcan Energy. At the end of 2023, the company opened a lithium extraction plant in Landau (Rhineland-Palatinate), which serves as a preliminary stage for later commercial production (we reported).

Vulcan Energy wants to use this pilot plant to extract lithium on a tonne scale. The company estimates the costs for the plant at 40 million euros. The entire first project phase, including the necessary drilling, is expected to cost 1.4 billion euros.

Esso Deutschland, a subsidiary of oil multinational Exxon Mobil, is also looking for lithium. At the end of 2024, the company received official permits for exploratory drilling in four areas around Bremen (we reported). According to Esso, the North German Basin offers favorable geological conditions for the resource-efficient extraction of lithium. In addition, Esso Deutschland has submitted 19 further applications for exploration permits in Lower Saxony.

There is another lithium extraction project in Bruchsal, Baden-Württemberg. There, EnBW is testing a new process together with the company Leverton Helm to extract lithium from the thermal water of the geothermal power plant. The two companies have developed and patented a method with which the lithium can be efficiently separated from the hot water.

Lithium is an important component of rechargeable batteries, such as those required for electric cars and home storage systems. "So far, the metal has mainly been mined in Australia, Argentina, Chile and China," says Fraunhofer.

Author: Stefan Sagmeister