Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL) has achieved what it says is a European first, producing ‘technical grade’ lithium carbonate from deep geothermal brine at its Cornwall operation.

 

Independent analysis has confirmed that GEL’s lithium carbonate exceeds the 99.3% purity threshold required for technical grade material — a breakthrough that could give the company a direct route to market without the need for further refining before sale to battery producers.

 

The milestone strengthens GEL’s ambitions to build a major domestic source of lithium, a critical material for the UK’s battery and electric vehicle industries.

 

The UK Government has set a target of meeting 10% of the country’s critical mineral demand through domestic production by 2035, including at least 50,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate.

 

GEL expects output from its United Downs site to reach around 2,000 tonnes a year by 2029. With further sites brought online, the company forecasts total production of up to 30,000 tonnes annually by 2033 — enough, it says, to meet more than 60% of the UK’s lithium target.

 

The company’s lithium extraction process is integrated with geothermal power production, which recent benchmarking studies have ranked among the most sustainable lithium production methods globally.

 

Julian Hetherington, Director of Automotive Transformation at the APC, delivering the UK government’s Driving Research & Investment in Vehicle Electrification programme, DRIVE35, welcomed the announcement.

 

“United Downs shows the huge opportunity the UK has to build a domestic supply of lithium carbonate in a sustainable way. It will strengthen the UK’s critical minerals supply chain and reindustrialise the country. DRIVE 35 is proud to have supported the project with a £1.8 million grant through our Automotive Transformation Fund, to help reach this important milestone. We look forward to continuing to work with GEL as it scales production across the UK.”

 

Ryan Law, CEO of GEL, said the achievement marked a crucial step towards commercial-scale production.

 

“Producing lithium carbonate that exceeds the purity specification for Technical Grade material is a major milestone for GEL and an important validation of our technology. We are demonstrating that it is possible to produce a high-quality, saleable lithium product in the UK with the highest environmental standards, creating the potential for a more secure and sustainable domestic supply of this critical battery material. This achievement marks an important step in our journey from pioneering technological development to large scale production.”

 

The company now aims to build on the milestone as it scales production and seeks to establish a leading position in Europe’s emerging lithium industry.