here is a solution to make electric car batteries much less polluting

Anti-electric people often tend to point the finger at lithium, the metal needed to make batteries. But did you know that there is a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional lithium? Green lithium, produced using geothermal energy.

While the electric car market is growing at breakneck speed, to the point where sales are surpassing those of diesels, a new obstacle is emerging. This concerns the risk of a shortage of lithium, as demand is constantly increasing. So much so that some say there will be a shortage of raw materials to produce enough batteries to meet growing needs in the future.

And this despite the constant rise in the price of lithium, again due to strong demand. Not to mention the fact that the extraction of this material is partly done in Asia, in a manner that is very harmful to the environment.

You understand why lithium crystallizes so much criticism. This metal, essential for the manufacture of modern batteries, is often extracted from open-air mines, with a significant environmental impact. Deforestation, soil and water pollution, massive water consumption… there are many complaints. Enough to give arguments to the opponents of the electric car, who point out the paradox of a technology supposed to be green, but based on unecological extraction.

But now an unexpected solution could change things. Researchers have discovered that the deep waters used in geothermal power plants are full of minerals, including… lithium! The idea is simple but ingenious: extract this lithium directly from geothermal brine.

The process, tested by the British chemist Leverton and the German energy company EnBW at the Bruchsal power plant, is promising. Deep water, usually used to generate steam and electricity, is processed to extract lithium carbonate with an impressive purity of 99.5%. A result which would allow direct use in the production of batteries.

Huge potential

The figures are dizzying: it is estimated that the earth’s crust contains around 80 million tonnes of lithium in dissolved form. Enough to power the battery industry for decades, with current annual production of just over 100,000 tonnes.

But be careful, not everything is rosy in this picture. Technical challenges remain to move from experimentation to large-scale production. Lithium concentration varies between geothermal sites, and extraction must be optimized to be profitable.

This innovation could be a boon for Europe, currently dependent on lithium imports (pending the creation of mines). By exploiting its own geothermal resources, the Old Continent could ensure part of its lithium supply, thus strengthening its energy independence.

In addition, this “green lithium” could considerably reduce the carbon footprint of batteries, a strong argument in the face of criticism of the environmental impact of electric vehicles.

Although the potential is enormous, we must remain cautious. The technology is still young and its large-scale deployment will take time. Questions persist about the economic viability of the process and its ability to meet the growing demand for lithium.

Additionally, even though this method is more environmentally friendly than traditional mining, it is not free of environmental impact. Geothermal energy itself can have effects on soils and groundwater which must be monitored closely.

Moreover, many projects are underway in Europe, whether in the form of open-pit mines or deposits, as for Vulcan Energy. The latter also promises to exploit a carbon-neutral lithium deposit in Germany in the coming years.