Vulcan Energy has begun construction on its flagship Project Lionheart, officially laying the foundation stone for the combined geothermal and lithium extraction plant (G-LEP) in Landau, Germany. The ceremony, attended by European Investment Bank Vice-President Nicola Beer and other senior officials, follows the company securing a €2.2 billion (A$3.9 billion) financing package to fully fund Phase One of the development.
Phase One Lionheart will deliver an integrated lithium and renewable energy project in the Upper Rhine Valley, targeting annual production of 24 000 t of lithium hydroxide monohydrate — enough for roughly 500 000 electric vehicle batteries — alongside 275 GWh of renewable electricity and 560 GWh of renewable heat for local consumers. The project has an expected operational life of about 30 years.
The G-LEP facility is central to Vulcan’s plan to produce carbon-neutral lithium using deep geothermal brine, while also supplying long-term renewable district heating to the City of Landau. Executives described the groundbreaking as a major milestone for European critical raw material security and the region’s clean-energy transition.
CEO Cris Moreno said the launch signalled strong momentum for Europe’s efforts to build domestic lithium supply chains and reduce reliance on imports. He added that Vulcan would now focus on advancing construction of the G-LEP and delivering climate-friendly lithium and renewable heat to the region.
