Vulcan Energy secures key permit for German lithium plant to supply 500,000 EVs yearly

Vulcan Energy has announced that it has received the construction permit for its Lithium Extraction Plant (LEP) in Landau, Germany.

This facility is part of Phase One of the Lionheart Project and marks the final approval required to commence construction works.

The project is designed to produce 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually, enough to supply approximately 500,000 electric vehicles (EVs).

It will also generate 275 GWh of electricity and 560 GWh of thermal energy per year.

Cris Moreno, Managing Director of Vulcan Energy, states: “We are one step closer to producing battery-grade lithium products from the same geothermal brine that is used to generate renewable energy for local use.”

“This will establish a sustainable, domestic and cost-effective source of lithium for the European battery and automotive industries, supporting the EU’s objective of reducing dependence on critical raw materials,” he adds.

The LEP will be integrated with a 30 MW geothermal power plant, for which construction permits were granted in June 2025. Land acquisition approval was obtained from the City of Landau in September.

The production system is based on a closed-loop circuit that transfers heat from geothermal brine to an industrial water cycle via intermediate heat exchangers.

The hot water is directed to district heating facilities and Organic Rankine Cycle plants, then recirculated for reheating.

Simultaneously, the cooled lithium-rich brine is routed to the LEP, where Vulcan’s proprietary VULSORB technology is used to extract lithium.

The lithium-depleted brine is then reinjected into the reservoir, completing the cycle. According to the company, the process is carbon neutral over its entire life cycle and involves no fossil fuel combustion.

The resulting lithium chloride solution will be transported to the Central Lithium Plant (CLP) at the Höchst Industrial Park in Frankfurt. The building permit for the CLP was granted in September.

The modular construction approach will enable phased development of the project across the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field.

The recently granted LEP permit forms a key element of the Phase One financing package, which is expected to be finalised in Q4 2025.

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