As part of the Li+Fluids joint project, BGR is testing for the first time a technical implementation for the extraction of lithium from deep geothermal brines in northern Germany. For this purpose, hot formation fluid from a depth of approx. 3,500 meters is to be brought to the surface and sorption processes are to be used to extract lithium.
For this purpose, the BGR is using its Horstberg Z1 exploration well near Dreilingen (Uelzen district), where fundamental geothermal research has already been carried out over the past 20 years. At present, the project is testing a prototype specially developed by the companies EnBW and Hydrosion for extracting lithium from deep geothermal brines and connecting it to the existing geothermal well.
The Li+Fluids project is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, BMWK. The aim is to investigate methods of lithium extraction at geothermal sites in addition to power and heat generation for possible domestic production of the battery raw material. Following a successful equipment test, concrete tests for the extraction of lithium from the deep geothermal fluids are planned in the Li+Fluids project for spring 2024.
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