The project will install a bolt-on Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) unit at our United Downs deep geothermal site in Cornwall (TR16 5HY) to produce 100 tons per annum (tpa) of zero carbon Lithium Carbonate Equivalent. The DLE unit will produce the lithium as a by-product from the geothermal power generation at the site. The geothermal fluid is produced from a 5.2km deep geothermal well that we have drilled . The water produced is hot (measured at 188C) with a high lithium content (water samples show \>250 ppm). The high heat and lithium is due to the granite that underlies the whole of Cornwall. The bolt-on DLE unit will process the geothermal fluid from the power plant before it is re-injected into the rock through the 2.3km injection well that we have also drilled at the site. This project builds on previous research and trials of different DLE technology at the site and could lead to substantial private investment in the sector in UK. The market for lithium hydroxide is for batteries. The market opportunity in the UK alone is for 75,000 tonnes per annum by 2035 (Faraday Institute). At present this will come from outside of the UK with a high carbon footprint. This also creates a supply risk, as processing is currently dominated by China. The UK currently produces no lithium and needs to catch up with other countries if it is to develop a domestic battery manufacturing industry.

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The project will develop the business case for funding a Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) unit(s) to extract lithium from deep geothermal water in Cornwall. At present, the UK produces no domestic lithium, an element that is required for most modern battery technologies. For the electric automotive industry in particular, lithium (in the form of hydroxide) is a crucial part of the supply chain. In Cornwall, we have drilled two deep wells into the rock (the deepest is 5.2km) to tap into the hot (185C) geothermal water for power production. This deep water also contains high concentrations of lithium. Recent technology (DLE) has enabled lithium to be extracted from this water at the surface as a by-product of the power generation process. The whole process requires no external energy, as any demands are met from the geothermal power plant. The product therefore has no carbon footprint, as opposed the common forms of lithium mining worldwide. DLE technology has already been trialled at our United Downs site and good lithium recovery rates (\>90%) have been observed. The next step will be to scale up this production to larger quantities and 24/7 operation which will require investment. This project will develop the investment grade business case for public or private funding.

The project will focus on two areas: 1\. The business case for the production of zero carbon lithium from deep geothermal fluid in Cornwall in order to substantially reduce the carbon footprint associated with the batteries used in electric cars. Even though electric cars have no emissions when driven, there are high emissions associated with their manufacture, particularly the supply of lithium for the batteries. 2\. Securing production of lithium in the UK to build a robust national supply chain of the raw material required for domestic battery manufacture. Storage of electricity in batteries, whether for powering cars or for balancing the National grid, is set to become a very important part of a sustainable, green economy. Most modern batteries use lithium as a raw material. However, the extraction and transportation of lithium has a high carbon footprint. In addition, no lithium is produced in the UK. To address the problem of the lithium carbon footprint, a small number of companies are now looking at extracting lithium from geothermal fluids beneath the ground. The most promising of these projects are in California and New Zealand. **The UK also has a lithium resource, contained within the geothermal fluids in Cornwall. We have recently (July 2020) shown that the concentration of lithium in the deep geothermal fluid in our geothermal wells in Cornwall is the highest in the world.** This project will assess the potential for lithium extraction from geothermal fluid in Cornwall and create an investment grade business case for developing an extraction plant at our existing geothermal site. The project will use data from the deep geothermal site near Redruth (United Downs Deep Geothermal project). The assessment will focus on the different types of technologies currently available for lithium extraction, the economics of the process, the market (present and future) , the impacts on the future economy in Cornwall and the overall carbon footprint (via a Lifetime Carbon Assessment). The project will also assess potential locations for four other follow on geothermal/ lithium extraction plants in Cornwall. The driver for lithium extraction from geothermal fluids is twofold: firstly to produce zero carbon lithium (the current carbon footprint of importing lithium is very high) and secondly, to ensure the UK has a secure supply chain of an essential element for battery technology.