Energy Department Announces Phase 1 Semifinalists of Geothermal Lithium Extraction Prize
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Phase 1 semifinalists of the American-Made Geothermal Lithium Extraction Prize, a $4 million competition designed to advance technologies and techniques to support direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines. Lithium, a critical material used in high-charge-density batteries for electric vehicles and grid-scale electricity storage, is a crucial element in the clean energy supply chain. Nearly all of the U.S lithium stock is imported. As domestic demand increases rapidly, there is an urgent need to develop safe, secure, domestic, and cost-competitive sources of lithium to achieve the Biden-Harris climate goals and create good paying jobs for Americans.
"By partnering technology researchers with industry commercialization professionals, the prize will fast-track efforts to recover lithium from geothermal brines at scale,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Kelly Speakes-Backman. “These technological innovations will help develop domestic sources of lithium that will create jobs and boost our clean energy revolution.”
Read more
|
