RCS - Weardale Lithium Ltd - Lithium Carbonate Produced from Geothermal Brines

E3 LithiumAnnouncement

11/05/2023 08:15

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RNS Number : 0237Z  Weardale Lithium Limited  11 May 2023

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

11 May 2023

Lithium Carbonate produced from naturally-occurring geothermal brines in
County Durham for the first time

Weardale Lithium Limited, ("Weardale Lithium", "WL", or the "Company") an
innovative natural resources company based in County Durham, UK is pleased to
announce that it has successfully extracted lithium from geothermal brines
following the completion of laboratory scale Direct Lithium Extraction ('DLE')
test-work with multiple technology providers, including the production of a
sample of lithium carbonate.

HIGHLIGHTS

·      For the first time, lithium carbonate has been produced from
geothermal brines in County Durham, North East England

·      Positive results from trials of multiple Direct Lithium
Extraction processes confirm the geothermal brines in the Eastgate Boreholes
are amenable for lithium production

·      Successful test-work and extraction of lithium represents a step
forward in the UK's ambitions to produce a domestic lithium supply chain

Having successfully secured a grant from the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC)
Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF), Weardale Lithium has been trialling the
effectiveness of multiple direct lithium extraction ("DLE") technologies in
extracting lithium from the geothermal brines found in the existing boreholes
at Eastgate, County Durham. All trials produced very positive results with
elevated results of lithium extraction and recovery rates.

Notably trials with Manchester-based, Watercycle Technologies Limited produced
lithium carbonate at laboratory scale using their proprietary Direct Lithium
Extraction and Crystallisation (DLEC™) process. The DLEC™ process
selectively removes lithium ions from complex brines using mixed matrix hollow
fibre adsorption membranes followed by concentration, polishing and
crystallisation stages.

Lithium is a critical raw material utilised in the production of electric
vehicle batteries. In order to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles
and meet net-zero targets, the UK needs a secure supply of lithium as there is
currently no commercial lithium production or refining in the UK or Europe.
Consequently, this is a significant milestone as it advances the possibility
of producing domestic lithium and in turn advancing an integrated
battery-supply chain industrial hub in the North East of England. Lithium
produced and refined in the UK will confer transportation cost advantages,
supply assurances and an environmental-premium over foreign suppliers.

Extraction of lithium from geothermal brines via DLE processes has been
assessed by third parties to have higher sustainability credentials over
alternative lithium sources. It is a low-impact, low-carbon and low-water
usage method of extracting lithium from brines which Weardale Lithium intend
to augment using power from renewable energy sources.

This milestone enables Weardale Lithium to progress its step-wise plans for
scaling up lithium extraction trials and supports the investment decision for
the construction and operation of a DLE pilot-demonstration plant for
test-scale production of lithium. The modular pilot-demonstration facility
will be located on the brownfield, former cement works at Eastgate. Commercial
production of approximately 10,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year is
being targeted which has the potential to directly generate around 125 new
full-time, highly skilled jobs. At commercial scale, Weardale Lithium estimate
that £1bn of gross economic value could be generated for the North East
region.

Stewart Dickson, CEO of Weardale Lithium, said:

"The supply of domestic lithium is of strategic importance to the UK's net
zero ambitions and production of high-value batteries for electric vehicles.

"We have taken a significant step forward in establishing that the naturally
occurring geothermal brines are amenable for lithium production and validated
a number of direct lithium extraction processes. We will now accelerate and
scale-up the testing of increased volumes of brine towards first production.

The grant from the APC has been hugely valuable in establishing this positive
proof of concept and accelerating test-work to enable us to make the
investment decision for the construction and operation of a DLE
pilot-demonstration plant for test-scale production of lithium.

Whilst there is still much to do, we have made significant steps towards being
able to generate a domestic supply of lithium in the North East that will
support vehicle electrification in the years to come."

Dr. Seb Leaper, CEO of WaterCycle Technologies said:

It's great to be working with Weardale Lithium and being the first company to
produce lithium carbonate from its brines. The net zero transition is
fundamentally impossible with existing supplies of critical minerals yet
traditional modes of extracting them are themselves environmentally damaging.
At Watercycle we have developed a process that produces zero waste, is
water-neutral and requires 95% less land than conventional lithium extraction
processes. All that will be left after operations are a few manhole covers and
so the natural beauty of the Weardale region will be preserved for future
generations as well."

Julian Hetherington, Director, Automotive Transformation, APC said:

"I'm delighted that the ATF was able to support Weardale Lithium's Feasibility
Study evaluating extraction and production of critical lithium supplies from
UK resources centred on a disused brownfield site. Projects such as this are
vital in securing upstream supply to support the UK's forecast demand of over
97GWh of automotive batteries by 2030, and could support a significant
proportion of the forecast 57,000tonnes per annum of UK lithium carbonate
needs by that time."

ENDS

 

 

Contacts:

 Weardale Lithium Limited                                  Recognition PR
 Stewart Dickson                                           Jamie Collis
 info@weardalelithium.co (mailto:info@weardalelithium.co)  01325 363436  Jamie.collis@recognitionpr.co.uk
                                                           (mailto:Jamie.collis@recognitionpr.co.uk)

 

Notes for Editors:

About Weardale Lithium

Weardale Lithium Limited is an innovative natural resources company seeking to
provide a secure and sustainable, domestic supply of lithium with associated
geothermal energy from underground brines in County Durham, UK.

There is no lithium production in the UK and Europe despite a significant
market opportunity and rising demand. Working with key strategic partners to
develop a regional and national battery-metal supply chain, Weardale Lithium
will support the "net-zero" ambitions of the UK.

For more information, please visit: www.weardalelithium.co
(http://www.weardalelithium.co) or follow us @Weardalelithium on Twitter and
Weardale Lithium on LinkedIn.

About Watercycle Technologies

Watercycle, spun out from the University of Manchester and backed by business
accelerator Aer Ventures, is an innovative, sustainability-driven deep tech
company focused on developing high-yield, low-cost mineral extraction, and
water treatment systems. Its advanced innovative membrane
distillation-crystallisation ('MDC') technology is capable of treating highly
concentrated water and is initially being utilised in lithium production from
sub surface water and brines, as well as lithium-ion spent battery recycling,
particularly relevant with regards to the current global transition towards a
Circular Economy.

 

The Company is operating from the world class facilities at the Masdar
Building at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre in Manchester, enabling
the team to conduct critical R&D in state-of-the-art laboratories.

 

The Company's patented membranes and systems are being developed and optimised
by its UK and international R&D team led by Dr Seb Leaper and Dr Ahmed
Abdelkarim to target industries including mining, desalination, agriculture,
textiles, and food & beverage.  Importantly, the modular technology
delivers dramatic reductions in costs and carbon emissions with one of the
important by product being fresh potable water.

 

Watercycle has a strong ethics-based business model that delivers profitable
commercial solutions that are also focused on sustainability, environmental
protection, and remediation.

www.watercycletechnologies.com (http://www.watercycletechnologies.com)

 

About the Advanced Propulsion Centre

The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) collaborates with UK government, the
automotive industry and academia to accelerate the industrialisation of
technologies, supporting the transition to deliver net-zero emission
vehicles.

Since its foundation in 2013, APC has funded 199 low-carbon projects involving
450 partners, working with companies of all sizes, and will have helped to
create or safeguard over 55,000 jobs in the UK. The technologies developed in
these projects are projected to save over 350 million tonnes of CO2, the
equivalent of removing the lifetime emissions from 14.1 million cars.

With its deep sector expertise and cutting-edge knowledge of new propulsion
technologies, APC's role in building and advising project consortia helps
projects start more quickly and deliver increased value. In the longer term,
its work to drive innovation and encourage collaboration is building the
foundations for a successful and sustainable UK automotive industry.

In 2019 the UK government committed the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF)
to accelerate the development of a net-zero vehicle supply chain, enabling
UK-based manufacturers to serve global markets. ATF investments are awarded
through the APC to support strategically important UK capital and R&D
investments that will enable companies involved in batteries, motors and
drives, power electronics, fuel cells, and associated supply chains to anchor
their future.

For more information go to apcuk.co.uk or follow us @theapcuk on Twitter and
Advanced Propulsion Centre UK on LinkedIn.

The term 'safeguarded jobs' means continued employment for existing roles that
otherwise might be lost in some sectors rather than new jobs created.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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