County Durham company secures a grant for lithium extraction capable of pushing forward UK net zero goals

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.

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.

“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.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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