Wedoany.com Report on Mar 18th, Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd has secured the first lithium production permit in Germany's Upper Rhine Valley, marking a regulatory breakthrough for lithium production in the country. The permit de-risks the company's €2.2 billion Lionheart project, which aims for co-production of lithium and renewable energy.

The Lionheart project plans to produce 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate annually, enough for approximately 500,000 electric vehicle batteries. Concurrently, the project will generate 275 GWh of renewable electricity and 560 GWh of renewable heat per year, with an expected project life of 30 years.

Cris Moreno, Managing Director and CEO of the company, stated: "Securing the first lithium production permit for the Lionheart project marks another significant milestone... We are one step closer to delivering Europe's first fully localized lithium supply chain, powered by geothermal energy co-production."

The lithium production permit is granted for an initial term of six years and covers Vulcan's Insheim geothermal production area, which has already begun generating renewable heat and power. The regulatory timeline shows the permit was obtained in March 2026, construction is currently underway, with commercial production targeted to begin in 2028.

The project employs direct lithium extraction technology, a revolutionary method that extracts lithium directly from brine sources through a selective separation process. Vulcan's proprietary VULSORB® technology enables the company to leverage geothermal power generation while extracting lithium, creating a dual revenue stream.

With €2.2 billion in funding secured, the lithium production permit for Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd accelerates the construction of the Lionheart project. The company plans to apply for more permits for the remaining areas and is preparing to commence commercial production in 2028, advancing the independence of Europe's lithium supply chain.