Joint research project: Li+Fluids – Potential uses of hydrothermal fluids for the extraction of lithium
Begin of project: October 1, 2021
End of project: September 30, 2024
Status of project: November 1, 2021
Measured lithium concentrations at geothermal sites in Germany and France
Source: BGR
The German Raw Materials Agency (DERA) expects global demand for lithium to double or even triple by 2025. The use of lithium in rechargeable batteries, especially in e-mobility, has been identified as a key driver for this development. Due to the lack of own lithium deposits coupled with high demand, Germany occupies one of the top positions in the global ranking of net importers of lithium.
The aim of the Li+Fluids project is to perform a comprehensive potential study for Germany for the extraction of lithium from hydrothermal fluids. It will contribute to the development of a (secondary) raw material strategy and be a decision support for the planning of geothermal sites with heat and additional raw material extraction. In particular, the potential of the North German Basin will be evaluated with regard to an economic lithium extraction. The Horstberg research well of the BGR (located between Celle and Uelzen) is an ideal location to implement first investigations and small-scale technical tests for the extraction of lithium at a well in the North German Basin.
In addition, a fundamental sustainability analysis of the lithium production at the considered sites is carried out in comparison to the conventional extraction of lithium.
For the existing and potential geothermal regions in Germany, fact sheets with the essential data on lithium extraction options will be prepared and made available to interested stakeholder groups. For this purpose, several specific sites in the North German Basin (NGB) will be considered, in particular, at locations where geothermal plants are already in operation or where a future operation would be favorable from a geological point of view. In addition, attention will be paid to regions that have not been considered so far for geothermal plants, such as the Thuringian Basin. In addition to the regional considerations, detailed investigations are carried out at several selected sites in order to show concrete implementations and perspectives for a possible regional lithium extraction.
Already existing and future extraction methods will be investigated for their applicability and sustainability in the NGB and re-evaluated technically, ecologically and economically. The goal is a zero-emission process for the extraction. For this purpose, the Horstberg research well of the BGR is used as a living lab in the NGB. For the first time, lithium extraction tests will be carried out in the NGB. For this purpose, fluids are artesian extracted from the formations of the Bunter sandstone with high Li concentration (190 mg/L).
Li+Fluids will be complemented by laboratory experiments and modeling-based studies to address the question of the ‘geological sustainability’ of lithium production from hydrothermal fluids: To what extent are re-injected fluids, depleted in lithium, re-enriched in lithium by fluid-rock interaction in the deep formations during regular geothermal operations? The resupply of lithium from the rock fromations may be of great importance for long-term Li extraction concomitant to geothermal operations.
The work in the Li+Fluids project will be completed by a fundamental sustainability assessment in the form of utility analyses of lithium production at the selected sites compared to the established extraction of lithium from salars and pegmatites. Sustainability, e.g. as CO2 equivalent, is a critical criterion besides economic, geological and technical conditions, which is examined in a utility analysis, in order to evaluate potential sites in Germany as a domestic deposit for lithium.
Funding Information:
Grant reference: 03EE4034A
Grant provider: BMWi
Project executing agency: Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
Funding program: Energietechnologien (BMWi)
Partner:
Fraunhofer-Einrichtung für Energieinfrastrukturen und Geothermie IEG
Fraunhofer-Institut für Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und Energietechnik UMSICHT