Vulcan Energy (ASX:VUL) has kicked off civil construction activities at its 30-megawatt Lionheart geothermal power plant site in Landau, Germany.
The civil work follows initial bulk earthworks on the site and comes ahead of the next development phase, which will involve erecting buildings and assembling process equipment. The company says current activities focus on preparing and constructing key foundations, concrete works, and building out road infrastructure.
Situated within the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field spanning Germany and France, Vulcan notes Lionheart represents the first production phase. The company also says the integrated lithium and renewable energy project is designed to produce 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate annually — equivalent to around 500,000 electric vehicle batteries per year — alongside 275 gigawatts per hour of renewable power and 560 gigawatts per hour of heat for local consumers over an estimated 30-year operational life.
The combined facility aims to deliver both baseload geothermal energy and a high-quality lithium chloride intermediate product for downstream processing, according to Vulcan. Construction covers approximately 10 hectares in the Messegelände Südost industrial park.
Both the geothermal plant and the lithium extraction facility will link to an interconnected network of pipelines and cables to transport lithium brine and industrial water between well sites and Landau.
Vulcan CEO Cris Moreno says moving into civil construction marks an important step for the project.
“We are delighted to move beyond preparatory bulk earthworks and into civil construction activities at our Lionheart geothermal power plant, an integral part of the Lionheart integrated lithium and geothermal project,” Moreno says.
“By producing our own baseload heat and power, where excess heat will be sold to local consumers, Lionheart is able to deliver low-cost lithium production with significant insulation from high energy prices now and in the future.
“Step by step, we are building cost competitive lithium production for Europe, and we look forward to keeping our shareholders abreast of further progress as the project develops.”
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Vulcan Energy
