CRM-geothermal: Raw materials from geothermal fluids: occurrence, enrichment, extraction

– about the project –

 

Geothermal fluids often carry high amounts of elements that the EU considers as ‘critical’ raw materials (CRM). Preliminary calculations show that even a single well has the potential to produce single-digit percentages of the EU needs. Combined extraction of heat and minerals maximises returns on investment, minimises environmental impact, requires no additional land use, leaves no mining legacies, has near-zero carbon footprint, and enables domestic supplies of CRM. 

CRM–geothermal proposes the co-production of CRM and heat from geothermal reservoirs.

CRM-geothermal proposes the co-production of CRM and heat from geothermal reservoirs. It combines the benefits of CRM provision with exploiting a renewable energy source (subsurface heat) from geothermal fluids. This co-production also avoids visible large-scale installations above ground, such as open pits, tailings ponds, or extractive waste heaps. It has minimal environmental footprint, and positive social and economic impacts are expected. Therefore, it is excellently aligned with European geothermal development, where a “cascade of uses of geothermal fluids” maximises value chains and is an enabler towards a reduced dependence on fossil fuels.

The consortium

HELMHOLTZ ZENTRUM POTSDAM DEUTSCHESGEOFORSCHUNGSZENTRUM GFZ

UNIVERSITY OF MISKOLC

INTERNATIONAL RAW MATERIALS OBSERVATORY AISBL

LA PALMA RESEARCH CENTRE SL

JACOBS UNIVERSITY BREMEN GGMBH

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA

DR. BRILL + PARTNER GMBH INSTITUT FUER HYGIENE UND MIKROBIOLOGIE

HASKOLI ISLANDS

IZMIR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

FEDERATION EUROPEENNE DES GEOLOGUES

VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V.

UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI ENTERPRISES AND SERVICES LIMITED

INLECOM INNOVATION ASTIKI MI KERDOSKOPIKI ETAIREIA

HYDROISOTOP GMBH LABORATORIUM ZUR BESTIMMUNG VON ISOTOPEN IN UMWELT UND HYDROLOGIE

NATURLICH INSHEIM GMBH

Associated Partners

Levin Sources (LS)

Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL)

United Kingdom Research and Innovation / British Geological Survey (UKRI)

University of Neuchatel (UNINE)

Cornish Lithium (CL)

Objectives

Screening and mapping of CRM content in geothermal settings

  • To gain a broad qualitative and quantitative overview about the CRM content in geothermal fluids from various geological formations across Europe and East African Rift countries with different properties
  • To make results widely available through a visualization platform (CRM-geothermal Fluid atlas).

Geological controls of CRM mobility, source and long-term sustainability in different geothermal settings

  • To obtain better knowledge of the geological and geochemical controls of CRM enrichment in geothermal environments.

  • To quantify the long-term sustainability of extraction of CRM.

  • To obtain better knowledge of the enrichment processes of CRM in scales from high enthalpy settings (Iceland and Turkey). 

  • To obtain better knowledge of the enrichment processes and sustainability CRM extraction from low salinity, crystalline rocks (Cornwall, German sedimentary basin). 

  • To quantify REE + Y enrichment in alkaline geothermal areas (brine or scale) and track their source.

  • To demonstrate potential economic sustainability of CRM extraction at the study sites before the brines become depleted.

Development and optimisation of extraction technologies for CRM from geothermal brines

  • To develop technologies to extract CRM from geothermal brines that are effective, economically feasible and scalable without interfering with the heat extraction process, including
    • To develop an adsorptive extraction by ion sieves and upscale the process for lithium
    • To develop a Selective Ion exchange membrane technique for extraction of Li, Sr and Rb
    • To develop a selective reversible adsorption by means of modified (bio-)polymers
    • To develop an ion enrichment technology by bioextraction

Deployment of the combined extraction of CRM and energy from geothermal fluids

  • To define the necessary framework-conditions (environmental, social, ethical, political, economic, legal) for combined extraction of CRMs and energy;

Testing, validation, integration (of design requirements, systems and components)

• To demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of the project concept at one major target sites.

• To demonstrate the applicability of the UNFC compliant reporting template, the appropriateness of the ESG impact assessments, and the workability of the digital economy tools

A multidisciplinary approach