Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL) plans to launch commercial lithium extraction in Cornwall by 2029. The project utilizes deep geothermal energy to process brine, with an expected annual output of 1,500 tonnes of lithium carbonate. The facility aims to supply enough material for 180,000 electric vehicle batteries per year.
The company intends to invest £43 million into the plant. This budget includes a grant of nearly £10 million from the UK government’s DRIVE35 Automotive Transformation Fund. Independent analysis confirms the extracted lithium carbonate exceeds the 99.3 per cent purity threshold required for battery-grade materials.
The project site at Redruth previously showed geothermal lithium concentrations of 340 ppm. GEL first announced its extraction plans in 2023. The initiative is part of a broader UK strategy to build a domestic lithium supply chain, which also includes a refinery project by Tees Valley Lithium in the Teesside region.
The Tees Valley Lithium project involves an investment of £185 million, supported by a government grant of £18.3 million. UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds noted that these developments contribute to the country's industrial resilience, following over £1 billion in recent automotive sector investments.
