Lithium extracted from geothermal brines could support vehicle electrification

The company – aided with a grant from the Automotive Transformation Fund - has been trialling the effectiveness of multiple direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies in extracting lithium from the geothermal brines found in boreholes at Eastgate.

Trials with Manchester-based, Watercycle Technologies produced lithium carbonate at laboratory scale using their Direct Lithium Extraction and Crystallisation (DLEC) process, which selectively removes lithium ions from complex brines using mixed matrix hollow fibre adsorption membranes followed by concentration, polishing and crystallisation stages.

Lithium is a critical raw material for electric vehicle batteries, but no commercial lithium production or refining takes place in the UK or Europe. Lithium produced and refined in the UK will present transportation cost advantages, supply assurances and an environmental-premium over foreign suppliers.

“The supply of domestic lithium is of strategic importance to the UK’s net zero ambitions and production of high-value batteries for electric vehicles,” Stewart Dickson, CEO of Weardale Lithium, said in a statement. “We have taken a significant step forward in establishing that the naturally occurring geothermal brines are amenable for lithium production and validated a number of direct lithium extraction processes. We will now accelerate and scale-up the testing of increased volumes of brine towards first production.”