Automation giant ABB has been chosen by Vulcan Energy to deliver the complete electrical infrastructure for its Phase One Lionheart Project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley, a move set to power Europe’s next generation of electric vehicles.
The Lionheart Project will combine renewable energy generation with lithium extraction and processing, producing battery-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) for the European EV market. When fully operational, the facility will generate 24,000 tons of LHM—enough for roughly 500,000 electric vehicles per year—alongside 275 GWh of electricity and 560 GWh of heat.
Under three contracts totaling €46 million, ABB will act as main electrical contractor, handling the design, engineering, manufacture, testing, and delivery of electrical systems across the Lithium Extraction Plant in Landau, the Central Lithium Plant in Frankfurt’s Industriepark Höchst, and surrounding well sites.
The scope includes full electrification from high-, medium-, and low-voltage distribution and transformers to drives, uninterruptible power supplies, and protection equipment, ensuring stable, efficient power from the 110 kV grid to every process and building-level operation.
“The Lionheart Project is a blueprint for how clean energy and advanced electrification go hand in hand,” said Björn Jonsson, Global Business Line Manager, Mining & Materials, ABB’s Process Industries division. “We are building the foundations for a stronger European battery supply chain, helping to meet growing demand for electric vehicles at a crucial point in the transition to clean mobility.”
Cris Moreno, Managing Director and CEO at Vulcan Energy, added: "ABB’s expertise and systems give us the certainty to scale efficiently. Together, we are establishing a robust model for industrial lithium production to meet market momentum while enabling battery supply chain decarbonization at scale. We are excited to advance our shared vision with ABB of a low-carbon future that’s powered by renewable energy and smart electrification.”
The contracts follow a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2024 aimed at streamlining engineering and optimizing design, supply, and cost performance. Signing is also a condition precedent to project financing, which Vulcan Energy targets to finalize, alongside additional project agreements, in Q4 2025.
