Vulcan Energie has received up to €100 million in government funding to advance the HEAT4LANDAU project, which aims to decarbonize Landau’s district heating network with geothermal energy. Supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, the funding will finance infrastructure capable of generating 255 MW of geothermal power. The project includes expanding Vulcan’s geothermal plants in Landau and Insheim, with renewable energy expected as early as the 2024-2025 heating season. The initiative is part of Vulcan’s larger “Lionheart” phase, promoting sustainable district heating.
Tag: geothermal energy
-
France Unveils Plans to Revitalize Mining and Renewable Energy Sectors
In a bid to reduce dependency on imports and align with climate targets, France announces measures aimed at revitalizing copper mining and expediting lithium and geothermal energy projects. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire outlined potential steps to streamline research permits for geothermal energy, mining, and carbon storage, with provisions allowing the repurposing of depleted oil and gas wells for carbon storage.
Speaking at a geothermal drilling site in a Paris suburb, Le Maire emphasized leveraging France’s diverse energy resources, including wind, hydro, biomass, and solar energy, alongside untapped geological assets. The proposed legislation seeks to accelerate the revival of copper mining, halted for over two decades, to meet the rising demand for cables essential in renewable energy infrastructure and cross-border power connections.
With lithium projects on the horizon, spearheaded by companies like Imerys SA, Eramet SA, and Arverne Group SA, France aims to cover a significant portion of its electric-vehicle battery needs by 2035. The national geothermal action plan, published in 2023, outlines ambitious targets to triple renewable heat production from deep geothermal energy and geothermal heat pumps by 2028 and 2030, respectively.
-
Vulcan Energy Initiates Local Lithium Production in Germany
Vulcan Energy, a lithium supplier, has commenced the production of lithium chloride at its extraction plant in Germany, marking a significant milestone in producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide. The CEO, Cris Moreno, highlighted the historic achievement, emphasizing that it is the first locally produced lithium resource in Germany.
With licenses covering over 1,000 kilometers of land in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley region, Vulcan Energy is tapping into super-hot lithium-rich brine from underground reservoirs, utilizing geothermal energy to extract lithium. This innovative approach aligns with the European Union’s targets for sourcing critical metals needed for its green transition.
Acknowledging the importance of securing access to critical raw materials, the German government has established a 1.1 billion-euro investment fund, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to high-tech and green projects, as announced by Vulcan Energy in February.
Vulcan Energy, with offtake agreements with major automakers like Volkswagen, Stellantis, and Renault, has seen promising results from its lithium extraction optimization plant in Landau, Germany. The company is now gearing up for the conversion of lithium chloride into battery-grade lithium hydroxide at its new plant in Frankfurt.
Looking ahead, Vulcan Energy aims to commission its first large-scale industrial plant by the end of 2026, with an expected annual output capable of powering 500,000 electric vehicles. Moreno expressed optimism about closing the financing for this ambitious project in the coming months.
In February, Vulcan Energy received preliminary approval from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for debt financing of up to 500 million euros, signaling further support for its endeavors in the lithium production sector.
-
Vulcan Energy Commences Lithium Production Using Geothermal Energy in Germany
Vulcan Energy, a prominent lithium supplier, has heralded the initiation of lithium chloride production at its extraction facility in Germany, marking a significant milestone towards the creation of battery-grade lithium hydroxide. CEO Cris Moreno emphasized the groundbreaking nature of this endeavor, highlighting that it represents the first instance of locally sourced lithium in Germany, drawn from underground reservoirs in the country’s Upper Rhine Valley region. Vulcan Energy’s innovative approach harnesses geothermal energy to extract lithium-rich brine, aligning with the European Union’s objectives to secure essential metals for its green transition. In response to potential challenges such as financial constraints and opposition, the German government has established a substantial investment fund of 1.1 billion euros to bolster access to critical raw materials, underscoring the strategic significance of initiatives like Vulcan’s. The company, boasting of offtake agreements with major automakers, including Volkswagen and Renault, is progressing rapidly with its lithium extraction optimization plant in Landau, Germany, demonstrating promising results and operational efficiency. Vulcan’s lithium chloride output will serve as the precursor for battery-grade lithium hydroxide production at its forthcoming conversion plant in Frankfurt. Looking ahead, Vulcan aims to secure funding for its ambitious industrial plant, targeting an annual output of 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide, equivalent to powering half a million electric vehicles, with financing discussions underway and preliminary approval from the European Investment Bank.
-
Bjelovar City Completes Successful Geothermal Water Well Project
Bjelovar city in Croatia has successfully concluded a 3.5 million euro ($3.8 million) geothermal water well project, surpassing initial expectations, as announced by the local government. The drilling initiative, which aimed to bolster electricity production from renewable sources, minimize CO2 emissions, and enhance energy security, received financial support totaling 1.3 million euros from Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, with an additional 1.0 million euros from Croatia’s Ministry of Regional Development. Bjelovar city itself financed the remaining 1.2 million euros for the project. The geothermal water well, reaching a depth of 1,290 meters with a deposit temperature of 83 degrees Celsius, will serve multiple purposes, including district heating, agricultural activities, and potentially future swimming pools. Notably, the surface water temperature registers at 70.1 degrees Celsius, showcasing the project’s promising outcomes.
-
Beogradska Elektrana Plans Investment in Geothermal Energy Exploration
The public utility company Beogradska Elektrana is now planning to invest in the drilling of a research and exploratory well to evaluate the feasibility of supplying geothermal energy to its geothermal heating plant in Batajnica.
This decision comes after the presentation of the results of a study done by the Faculty of Mining and Geology that identified three high-potential sites for geothermal heating – Batajnica, Borca, and Dunav. Each of these areas has the potential to support between 5 to 20 MW of heating capacity. The heating plants identified in this study align with the results of a similar study done in 2023, although the more recent study proposes a shorter list of potential sites for development.
The study was done based on geological data collected through research, analysis of archival materials, and recorded data of operating parameters of the heating plants.
During the discussion, it was concluded that the exploitation of geothermal energy at the Batajnica heating plant has the potential to substitute more than 90% of the annual amount of fossil fuel-based energy generated in this heating plant. Thus, Vanja Vukic, Director of Beogradska Elektrana, stated that the company now plans to invest in exploratory drilling to confirm the predicted parameters for geothermal heating capacity.
The plan is for the drilling of the exploration well to start this year, with the aim of utilizing heat from the well for the 2025/2026 heating season.
Serbia currently has a single operation geothermal heating plant in Bogatic, which started construction in 2018 and became operational a year after.