Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL) recently announced an ambitious initiative that could transform the energy and automotive landscape: the production of around 100 tonnes of Lithium Carbon Equivalent (LCE) per year from its geothermal projects. This announcement follows the discovery of high concentrations of lithium in geothermal fluids, a key development in the search for sustainable energy solutions.
United Downs Deep Geothermal Project: A Pioneering Project
The tests carried out revealed lithium concentrations of up to 340 ppm, making this project one of the most promising in Europe. This discovery was made as part of the United Downs Deep Geothermal Project (UDDGP), a pioneering project integrating the production of electricity and heat from deep geothermal sources. GEL has already drilled two geothermal wells for this project, demonstrating its commitment to innovative energy solutions.
GEL Growth and Impact Outlook
Ryan Law, CEO of GEL, underlined the growing interest in the direct extraction of lithium from geothermal resources, a field that is still in development but holds great promise. GEL’s initial target is to produce 100 tonnes of LCE per year by the end of 2024, a target that is set to increase significantly to at least 1,000 tonnes per year by 2026, and ultimately over 12,000 tonnes per year in the UK by 2030.
Government support and economic implications
The project has also received substantial financial support from the government, with a £1.8 million grant from the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) Scalability Scheme. This government recognition underlines the strategic importance of these projects for the UK’s energy transition.
Beyond the energy aspect, these projects have considerable economic and social potential, particularly for the host region of lithium and geothermal reserves. Jason Cheng, CEO and co-founder of Kerogen Capital, also recognized the importance of this high-concentration lithium discovery, calling it a significant development for renewable energy and the UK’s energy transition.
The GEL initiative represents an important milestone in the exploitation of renewable energies, and offers a promising prospect for the sustainable production of lithium. This breakthrough places not only GEL but also the region concerned at the heart of an energy revolution, with far-reaching implications for the local economy and the global energy transition.
