LITHIUM, enough resources for all electric vehicles?

[moinsdewatt]

Very recent 39 minutes video (March 2021) in French on Lithium

by Jérémie Melleton who works at BRGM

[moinsdewatt]

The Chicago Stock Exchange is preparing to launch futures contracts on lithium: a metal widely used in the design of batteries found in electric vehicles. Explanations from Laurent Grassin, Editorial Director Boursorama. Ecorama of April 22, 2021, presented by David Jacquot on Boursorama.com

8 mins video:
https://www.boursorama.com/videos/actua ... c2cf03a2d3

[moinsdewatt]

following this post from Nov 9, 2019: http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 7#p2291367

Eramet takes a step towards lithium extraction in Alsace

New Factory May 12, 2021

The French mining and metallurgical group Eramet has validated the operation of its pilot project to extract lithium from geothermal brines in Alsace. It has yet to assess its economic viability.

What if the lithium in electric batteries produced in Europe was in the future “made in France”? The Eramet mining group has taken a step forward in its project to exploit the metal present in geothermal brines in the Alsatian subsoil. At the start of 2021, the group succeeded in extracting lithium carbonate in its pilot unit located at the Electricité de Strasbourg geothermal power plant in Rittershoffen (Bas-Rhin). In operation for five years, the plant was not affected by the shutdown of deep geothermal operations decided in December by the Bas-Rhin prefecture.
(following subscribers)

https://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/e ... e.N1092269

Eramet extracts lithium in Europe

Michael McCrae Tuesday May 11, 2021

Eramet announced Tuesday that it succeeded in extracting lithium from geothermal brine at the Rittershoffen geothermal power plant in the Rhine Rift Valley.

The pilot-scale test was conducted in early 2021. The Rittershoffen heat plant is located in the North of Alsace, France.

The company said it used an innovative extraction process that is different from conventional methods, which rely on evaporation. Eramet said its process minimizes water consumption while achieving an 85% yield compared to a conventional processing method, which only achieves 50% yield.

"Eramet's teams used the groundbreaking direct lithium extraction process developed as part of its Centenario Lithium project, which aims to extract lithium from the brines contained in a salar in Argentina, "writes the company.

"This process, for which several patents have been granted, is based on an innovative material developed by Eramet and IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN). It has been adapted to work with hot brines under the pressure conditions used to produce heat and electricity in the Rhine Rift Valley. "

https://www.kitco.com/news/2021-05-11/E ... urope.html

[moinsdewatt]

It is not only Eramet who wants to exploit lithium from underground brines in France:

France still wants to extract lithium from its deep waters

Hugo LARA June 7, 2021

France still wants to extract lithium from its deep waters
The earthquakes caused by geothermal drilling near Strasbourg at the end of 2020 have not cooled industrialists. Many of them want to continue exploring French subsoils, the waters of which can locally be saturated with lithium.

France can become independent in lithium if it manages to extract it from the waters circulating in its deep bowels. It would have reserves estimated at between 10 and 40 million tonnes. A boon for the geothermal industry, who are looking to produce this popular metal at the same time as heat.

The stoppage of drilling carried out by Fonroche near Strasbourg following the earthquakes at the end of 2020 did not really dampen their ardor. Arverne, a young French company specializing in geothermal energy, wants to continue research. The Pau-based company is already drilling for various industries. It has just launched a subsidiary called “Lithium de France” and has applied for a first permit to explore 170 km² of surfaces in the north of Alsace.

Boiling water at a depth of 2500 m
Its objective is to drill to a depth of 2 to 000 m in order to extract water at 2 ° C. This is 500 times less than the aborted installation of Fonroche, whose great depth is accused of being the cause of earthquakes. The geothermal site will produce “low-carbon” heat intended for industrial customers. On the other hand, Arverne does not wish to produce electricity, because for that it would be necessary to drill more deeply. At the same time, the company hopes to be able to separate the lithium but also other elements such as germanium (used in particular in electronics) trapped in the water. However, the process remains to be developed, as well as the economic model for the moment uncertain.

Between 1 and 000 tonnes of lithium are expected to be extracted from basements each year. A particularly vague estimate because "the resource must be confirmed" explains Pierre Brossollet, president of Arverne to the GreenUnivers media. Drilling could begin in two years according to the company, which is also interested in other regions of France such as Nouvelle-Aquitaine and the Massif Central.

https://www.revolution-energetique.com/ ... profondes/

http://arvernegeothermal.earth/index.ph ... eothermie/

[jean.caissepas]

An invention makes it possible to extract lithium from seawater for $ 5 of electricity / kg (and in addition, H2 and chlorine can be recovered during the reaction, which makes it possible to reduce costs thanks to the resale of these products):

Lithium is an essential part of the batteries that power electric vehicles, but exploding demand for lithium is expected to deplete terrestrial reserves by 2080. KAUST researchers have now developed an economically viable system that allows for extract high purity lithium from seawater.

https://www.enerzine.com/une-batterie-e ... 58-2021-06

We can't wait for this to be industrialized in order to meet current and especially future needs.

This should not, hopefully, prevent the increase in recycling to avoid the current waste and pollution.

[moinsdewatt]

continuation of this post of June 13, 2021 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 2#p2320932

Rio Tinto to invest $ 2.4bn to develop Jadar lithium project
First saleable production from the Serbian mine is expected to be achieved in 2026

By NS Energy Staff Writer 28 Jul 2021

Rio Tinto has decided to invest $ 2.4bn to develop the Jadar lithium-borates project in Serbia to serve the European electric vehicles market.

The project is expected to produce nearly 58,000 tonnes of battery grade lithium carbonate.

Touted to be the largest greenfield lithium project in the world, Jadar is subject to relevant approvals, permits, and licenses among others.

Through the underground mining project, Rio Tinto aims to become the largest supplier of lithium in Europe for at least the next 15 years. The company expects to achieve the first saleable production from the project in 2026.

Apart from lithium carbonate, the Jadar project will yield borates, which are used in wind turbines and solar panels.

Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm said: “Serbia and Rio Tinto will be well-positioned to capture the opportunity offered by rising demand for lithium, driven by the global energy transition and the project will strengthen our offering, particularly to the European market. It could supply enough lithium to power over one million electric vehicles per year.

“The Jadar deposit and its unique mineral, Jadarite, discovered by Rio Tinto geologists in 2004 contains high-grade mineralization of boron and lithium, supporting a long-life operation in the first quartile of the cost curve for both products.”

After ramping up to full production in 2029, the underground mine will produce 160,000 tons of boric acid (B2O3 units) and 255,000 tons of sodium along with 58,000 tons of lithium carbonate.

Rio Tinto is targeting to produce 2.3 million tonnes of lithium carbonate from the Jadar project over its estimated 40-year life of mine.

The next step for the mining giant is for pursuing an exploitation license and regulatory approvals, which include approval of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies.

The company is targeting to begin construction next year.

Rio Tinto's investment decision on the Jadar lithium-borates project follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with InoBat, a European battery technology and manufacturing company, in May 2021.

As per the MoU, the companies agreed to expedite the setting up of a lithium battery manufacturing and recycling value chain in Serbia.

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/r ... s-project/

[izentrop]

In the east of France, a large-scale lithium deposit?
It could guarantee 20 to 30% of European needs according to the first results.

A report published a few weeks ago, at the end of the project concluded last December, reveals that several kilos of lithium were extracted from the deep geothermal site of Soultz-sous-Forêts, north of the city of Strasbourg, thanks to a process of filtering brine water at a depth of 2 meters.

https://insideevs.fr/news/566214/lithiu ... ie-france/

[GuyGadeboisTheBack]

If it doesn't pollute, why not?

[Christophe]

If it doesn't pollute, why not?

So you see that Lithium is not a problem…despite the brainwashing of lobbyists…

[GuyGadeboisTheBack]

If it doesn't pollute, why not?

So you see that Lithium is not a problem…despite the brainwashing of lobbyists…

You don't care about the world, have you read any article from the links I posted or what? And note that there is an "if" at the beginning of my sentence.