Germany — Mining has long been one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries, often associated with environmental harm, heavy emissions, and long supply chains. Yet a new project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley is challenging that perception, aiming to prove that mining can be both economically viable and environmentally responsible.
At the center of this transformation is Vulcan Energy, an Australian company that specializes in lithium production and renewable energy. Its flagship project, named Lionheart, is poised to become one of Europe’s first large-scale renewable lithium operations—one that combines mineral extraction with clean power generation.
To build and power this ambitious facility, Vulcan has enlisted ABB, the global automation and electrification leader, in a partnership that signals a new era for mining and energy infrastructure.
The Lionheart project is being developed in the Upper Rhine Valley, a region that sits at the heart of Europe’s industrial and automotive supply chains. The goal is to produce lithium—an essential material for electric vehicle batteries—using renewable energy and low-emissions processes.
The project is designed to extract lithium from geothermal brine, which is then processed into lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM), a battery-grade material in high demand across Europe.
In a sector often criticized for its environmental footprint, Vulcan’s approach stands out for its emphasis on clean energy integration and reduced carbon emissions.
To bring the Lionheart project to life, Vulcan Energy has awarded three contracts to ABB worth a combined US$50 million. ABB will deliver the complete electrical infrastructure for multiple sites:
Lithium Extraction Plant in Landau
Central Lithium Plant in Industriepark Höchst, near Frankfurt
Associated well sites
ABB’s responsibilities cover everything from high-voltage grid connections to facility-level electrical systems, effectively creating the backbone of Vulcan’s clean energy network across Central Europe.
According to Björn Jonsson, Global Business Line Manager for Mining & Materials at ABB, the partnership illustrates how electrification and renewable energy can reinforce Europe’s energy independence.
“The Lionheart Project is a blueprint for how clean energy and advanced electrification go hand in hand,” Jonsson said.
“We are building the foundations for a stronger European battery supply chain, helping to meet growing demand for electric vehicles at a crucial point in the transition to clean mobility.”
Once operational, the Lionheart project is expected to produce 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate per year, which is enough to support the production of roughly half a million electric vehicles annually.
The project’s environmental ambitions are equally impressive. Vulcan’s facility is designed to co-generate its own renewable power, producing:
275 GWh of electricity
560 GWh of thermal energy
By supplying both electricity and heat, the facility will not only support its own industrial processes but also feed renewable power back into Germany’s energy grid. This dual output is expected to contribute to national clean energy targets while improving the resilience of the country’s energy infrastructure.
Vulcan has already secured long-term lithium supply agreements with several major companies, ensuring a stable pipeline of raw materials for Europe’s battery manufacturing industry. The list includes:
Stellantis
LG Corp
Umicore
Glencore
These agreements position Vulcan as a critical supplier for the European EV supply chain, and they underline the urgency of building domestic lithium production capacity in the face of rising global demand.
In a Reuters interview, Francis Wedin, Executive Chair of Vulcan Energy, confirmed that the project is fully funded and construction has begun immediately. He stated that the work is expected to be completed within two and a half years.
The financing package for the project totals US$2.56 billion, combining equity, debt, and government grants.
The breakdown includes:
US$709 million raised through institutional placements, supported by 13 major financial institutions, including the European Investment Bank
US$122 million in government grants from the German government, aligned with its national strategy to strengthen domestic clean energy supply chains and reduce reliance on imported raw materials
The collaboration between Vulcan Energy and ABB began with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in April 2024. The MoU aimed to improve engineering efficiency, streamline procurement, and reduce costs across Vulcan’s renewable power infrastructure.
Vulcan CEO Cris Moreno described the partnership as essential to scaling the project efficiently.
“ABB’s expertise and systems give us the certainty to scale efficiently,” Moreno said.
“Together, we are establishing a robust model for industrial lithium production to meet market momentum while enabling battery supply chain decarbonisation at scale.”
As construction advances, ABB is deploying a complete suite of electrical systems across the Lionheart project, covering high, medium, and low voltage applications. ABB’s technology will include:
Switchgear
Transformers
Protection systems
Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)
These components are designed to ensure reliable energy delivery from the 110 kV grid to the site’s internal processes, maintaining operational efficiency while supporting the facility’s sustainability goals.
ABB’s MNS low-voltage switchgear, a trusted solution across global industrial and energy projects, is a key part of the project’s electrical infrastructure.
The Lionheart project represents a bold step in Europe’s energy transition. With rising power demand across the continent and an urgent need for local renewable energy sources, Vulcan Energy’s model demonstrates how mining and clean energy can coexist.
By combining lithium extraction with renewable power generation, the project could become a template for future sustainable mining operations—not just in Europe, but globally.
As the project moves forward, industry observers will be watching closely to see whether Vulcan Energy and ABB can deliver on their promise of a low-emissions lithium supply chain—one that supports Europe’s EV ambitions while reducing the environmental impact of mining.
