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Electrical infrastructure for renewable lithium production
ABB has been tasked with providing end-to-end electrification for phase 1 of Vulcan Energy's Lionheart project, designed to support the European supply of lithium for electric vehicle batteries.
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The Schleidberg geothermal drilling site (Upper Rhine Valley), operated by Vulcan Energy. The platform harnesses deep geothermal resources to produce renewable energy and extract lithium from the brine. Image: Vulcan Energy.
Integrating geothermal energy production with lithium extraction and processing requires tightly coordinated, grid-connected electrical systems across multiple industrial sites. In this context, ABB was selected to provide the complete electrical infrastructure for Phase 1 of the Lionheart project, a renewable lithium development operated by Vulcan Energy in the Upper Rhine Valley, Germany.
Electrification at the heart of lithium and geothermal operations
Phase 1 of Lionheart was designed to combine geothermal energy production and lithium extraction. The project targeted an annual capacity of 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM), a battery precursor, to meet the demand of approximately 500,000 electric vehicles. In parallel, the integrated geothermal system was expected to produce 275 GWh of electricity and 560 GWh of heat per year, intended for both industrial processes and local energy needs.
A scope covering three industrial sites
Under three contracts totaling €46 million, ABB acted as the prime contractor for the electrification of the project. Its scope included the design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, and delivery of electrical systems for the Landau lithium mining facility, the central lithium processing plant located at Industriepark Höchst in Frankfurt, and the infrastructure for the surrounding geothermal wells. The complete electrical equipment included high-, medium-, and low-voltage switchgear, transformers, variable-speed drives, inverters, and electrical protection devices, designed to ensure reliable distribution of electricity from the 110 kV grid to each stage of the process.
Groundbreaking ceremony at Vulcan Energy's German site. Image: Vulcan Energy.
A key technical role for process stability and efficiency
The electrical systems were specified to enable continuous operation of the mining, processing, and power generation assets, where any interruption directly impacts production volumes and equipment integrity. The 110 kV grid interface, along with the voltage transformation and drive systems, provided controlled power to the pumps, processing units, and auxiliary systems. This configuration addressed both the variable loads associated with geothermal production and the constant energy requirements of lithium processing.
From MOU to an Integrated Execution Model
The contracts followed a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2024, which established a framework for streamlining project engineering and execution. By aligning design, procurement, and cost structures from the outset, the agreement aimed to mitigate interface risks across a multi-site project. This collaboration combined ABB's expertise in electrification with Vulcan Energy's expertise in lithium extraction processes, positioning Lionheart as Europe's first fully integrated renewable lithium operation.
www.abb.com
Integrating geothermal energy production with lithium extraction and processing requires tightly coordinated, grid-connected electrical systems across multiple industrial sites. In this context, ABB was selected to provide the complete electrical infrastructure for Phase 1 of the Lionheart project, a renewable lithium development operated by Vulcan Energy in the Upper Rhine Valley, Germany.
Electrification at the heart of lithium and geothermal operations
Phase 1 of Lionheart was designed to combine geothermal energy production and lithium extraction. The project targeted an annual capacity of 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM), a battery precursor, to meet the demand of approximately 500,000 electric vehicles. In parallel, the integrated geothermal system was expected to produce 275 GWh of electricity and 560 GWh of heat per year, intended for both industrial processes and local energy needs.
A scope covering three industrial sites
Under three contracts totaling €46 million, ABB acted as the prime contractor for the electrification of the project. Its scope included the design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, and delivery of electrical systems for the Landau lithium mining facility, the central lithium processing plant located at Industriepark Höchst in Frankfurt, and the infrastructure for the surrounding geothermal wells. The complete electrical equipment included high-, medium-, and low-voltage switchgear, transformers, variable-speed drives, inverters, and electrical protection devices, designed to ensure reliable distribution of electricity from the 110 kV grid to each stage of the process.
Groundbreaking ceremony at Vulcan Energy's German site. Image: Vulcan Energy.
A key technical role for process stability and efficiency
The electrical systems were specified to enable continuous operation of the mining, processing, and power generation assets, where any interruption directly impacts production volumes and equipment integrity. The 110 kV grid interface, along with the voltage transformation and drive systems, provided controlled power to the pumps, processing units, and auxiliary systems. This configuration addressed both the variable loads associated with geothermal production and the constant energy requirements of lithium processing.
From MOU to an Integrated Execution Model
The contracts followed a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2024, which established a framework for streamlining project engineering and execution. By aligning design, procurement, and cost structures from the outset, the agreement aimed to mitigate interface risks across a multi-site project. This collaboration combined ABB's expertise in electrification with Vulcan Energy's expertise in lithium extraction processes, positioning Lionheart as Europe's first fully integrated renewable lithium operation.
www.abb.com
