Imagine a geothermal power plant that doesn't just provide heat, but also acts like a filter for rare minerals. Instead of digging giant holes in the ground, we can pull valuable metals directly from the hot salty water already being pumped up. It is like getting two products—energy and minerals—from a single straw in the earth.
The EU relies on risky imports for critical raw materials needed for the digital transition. Traditional mining is often socially rejected and environmentally damaging.
An online AI-tool for optimizing Lithium exploration and a modular, mobile miniplant for on-site mineral extraction testing.
If you are a plant operator dealing with high operational costs—this project developed a method to combine heat and mineral extraction that maximizes returns on investment. By adding a mineral recovery stream, you create a second revenue source from the same well.
If you are a processing company dealing with the high environmental cost of traditional mining—this project developed innovative extraction technologies for geothermal brines. This allows you to source critical raw materials with a near-zero carbon footprint and no new land-use.
If you are a manufacturer dealing with geopolitical risks of imported minerals—this project developed an AI-tool to optimize Lithium exploration. This enables a domestic EU supply of critical raw materials, reducing reliance on non-European imports.
Based on available project data, specific pricing is not provided, but the project focuses on creating a business case for SMEs to maximize returns on investment through combined heat and mineral extraction.
The project aims to demonstrate the technology at a pilot site using a modular, mobile miniplant to investigate upscaling and system integration.
Based on available project data, the project is developing innovative extraction technologies and an AI-tool for public use, but specific licensing terms are not listed.
The project uses UNFC/UNRMS compliant reporting to ensure transparency and focuses on obtaining a 'social license to operate' through environmental-social-economic viability assessments.
The project period runs from 2022-05-01 to 2026-04-30, with pilot studies and miniplant deployment as key objectives.
The consortium is highly diverse and scaled for European impact, featuring 36 partners across 21 countries. With an industry ratio of 22% (including 8 SMEs), the project balances deep academic research from 6 universities and 4 research centers with practical industrial application, ensuring the resulting extraction technologies are commercially viable for small and medium enterprises.
Contact GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung in Germany
Contact us to connect with the CRM-geothermal consortium for pilot site opportunities.
