ABB and Vulcan Energy Resources have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on establishing design, engineering, execution, and operational plans for strategically important reserves of lithium in Europe. This agreement focuses on Vulcan Energy’s ZERO CARBON LITHIUM™ Project in the Upper Rhine Valley region, aiming to access naturally heated lithium-rich brine from underground reservoirs and use geothermal heat to produce renewable energy.
Under the collaboration, ABB will support Vulcan Energy by identifying, pursuing, and securing opportunities to deliver electrification and automation for the project. This includes early involvement with EPCm contractors and technology providers to ensure efficient and sustainable processes.
The European Union's target of having 100% of vehicles be zero-emissions by 2035 necessitates a more than 50-fold increase in lithium demand by 2050. Vulcan’s project, integrating renewable heat, power, and lithium production, offers a regional supply of carbon-neutral lithium that will drive Germany and Europe toward a net-zero shift in mobility and energy.
"This MoU marks the beginning of a promising long-term collaboration between Vulcan and ABB," stated Cris Moreno, Managing Director and CEO of Vulcan. "We are excited to have ABB as a key partner in delivering world-leading solutions for our integrated renewable energy and ZERO CARBON LITHIUM™ Project and beyond."
In the short term, the collaboration will help clarify design principles, standards, and interfaces, as well as enable early design and optimization in electrification and automation. Long-term, the companies aim to extend the partnership to operational support and continuous performance improvement initiatives throughout the lifecycle of the plant.
Source: abb.com