Vulcan Energy produces lithium hydroxide at the Central Lithium Electrolysis Optimization Plant (CLEOP) at Industriepark Höchst in Frankfurt. This is the first lithium hydroxide produced entirely sustainably in Europe, from raw material to finished product.
The chemical building block comes from Vulcan’s first optimization plant in Landau, where the company produces high-quality lithium chloride using direct lithium extraction by adsorption (A-DLE). The plant in Höchst further processes this into lithium hydroxide. The result is a fully integrated supply chain from raw material to finished product. This represents not only an important milestone for European independence from critical raw materials, but also for the transition to green mobility.
500,000 electric cars
Vulcan’s optimization plants are used in particular for testing product quality and act as precursors to the planned commercial plants. The lithium produced there is supplied to off-take partners of Vulcan’s first project phase in the battery and automotive industry for product validation, including Stellantis, Renault, LG and Umicore. Vulcan has named this first project phase “Lionheart.” This first commercial phase will produce about 24,000 tons of lithium annually, enough for about 500,000 electric vehicles per year. The commercial Central Lithium Plant (CLP) will also be realized in Industriepark Höchst.
For the electrolysis process taking place in CLEOP, Vulcan uses only green generated electricity. The process of direct lithium extraction by adsorption is powered by renewable heat. In this way, Vulcan can achieve one of the most cost-effective supply chains for lithium in the world. Moreover, the location of the first production phase is close to German and European automotive customers who need batteries for electric vehicles as part of the mobility transition. Vulcan will use no fossil fuels in extracting and processing lithium, meaning the process will have the lowest carbon footprint of any lithium production globally.
Sustainable lithium
Recently, Vulcan’s “Green Financing Framework” was awarded “dark green” status by independent rating agency S&P Global Ratings – the highest possible rating ever awarded to a company in the metals and mining industry. This status is awarded to projects that are in line with the long-term goals of a climate-neutral and climate-resilient future. The excess heat and energy released during the process is made available to communities in the region and used to decarbonize local industry.
