DOE Announces $10.9 Million to Expand Domestic Supplies of Lithium through Geothermal Brine Extraction

DOE Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation sent this bulletin at 07/24/2023 01:03 PM EDT

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July 24, 2023

DOE Announces $10.9 Million to Expand Domestic Supplies of Lithium through Geothermal Brine Extraction

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $10.9 million for 11 projects across nine states that will advance innovative technologies to extract and convert battery-grade lithium from geothermal brine sources in the United States. This work will increase America’s access to cost-effective, domestic sources of this critical material needed for batteries for stationary storage and electric vehicles to meet the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of 50% electric vehicle adoption by 2030 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.  

Currently, the United States has limited capabilities to produce and refine domestically sourced lithium. Direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines represents an opportunity to domestically produce lithium hydroxide—the form of lithium used for advanced batteries—in an efficient and environmentally friendly way.  

“A strong, domestic supply chain for lithium is crucial for our nation’s clean energy economy," said Alejandro Moreno, Acting Assistant Secretary for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). "This investment will support innovations leading to safe and sustainable production of the lithium we need for batteries for electric vehicles and the grid right here at home.” 

The 11 projects were selected from two Topic Areas: 

  1. Field Validation of Lithium Hydroxide Production from Geothermal Brines:  Pilot or demonstration projects to validate cost-effective, innovative lithium extraction and lithium hydroxide conversion technologies.   
  2. Applied Research & Development for Direct Lithium Extraction from Geothermal Brines:  Research and development projects to advance emerging direct lithium extraction process technologies to increase efficiency, reduce waste generation, and/or reduce cost. 

These projects are being managed in collaboration by EERE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) and Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO). The projects add to a portfolio of recent investments such as AMMTO’s Lithium RD&D Virtual Center; AMMTO’s Critical Materials Institute – an Energy Innovation Hub led by Ames National Laboratory; GTO’s Geothermal Lithium Extraction Prize and GTO’s Lithium StoryMap. 

The goals of these projects align with DOE’s Critical Minerals and Materials Program, the Energy Storage Grand Challenge Roadmap, the Federal Consortium on Advanced Batteries National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries, and the American Battery Materials Initiative.  

*Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time.