GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE
DOE Awards $10.9 Million to Expand Domestic Supplies of Lithium Through Geothermal Brine Extraction

On July 24th, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $10.9 million for 10 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 source 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 Deputy 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 10 projects were selected for 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 & Development projects to advance emerging direct lithium extraction process technologies to increase efficiency, reduce waste generation, and/or reduce cost.

Check out the full list of selected projects.

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

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