Boost to future of electric cars as UK’s first lithium plant secures new investment

The UK’s first lithium factory, which aims to supply European electric car and battery makers, has secured new investment.

The refinery, which is being developed in northern England by Green Lithium, will receive feedstock – a raw material used in processing – from Trafigura, one of the world’s largest metals traders.

Trafigura also plans to sell the finished product made by the 50,000 tonne-a-year plant to customers in Europe.

Most of the world’s lithium comes from rocks found in Australia or from salt lakes in Chile, Bolivia and Argentina.

Much of it is then shipped and processed in China, often using fossil fuels.

Advertisement

There is currently no commercial lithium refinery in Europe, leaving the continent’s growing electric vehicle and sustainable energy storage sectors reliant on China’s plants.

There are risks to being dependent on a single country for a particular resource – as evidenced by the war in Ukraine and supply chain disruption caused by the coronavirus lockdown in Shanghai.

More on Electric Cars

Electric cars prices will be ‘driven down’ by new govt plans, but environmentalists want more ambitious targets

Electric car charging points hacked to show porn in Isle of Wight

Electric cars: Positive news for EV owners as plan to boost number of public charge points unveiled

Related Topics: Electric Cars

Green Lithium promises to be a solution to this and the growing demand for battery-grade lithium chemicals, which it says will soon outstrip supply.

It aims to have the plant running by the end of 2024, supporting 1,000 jobs during construction and 200 after completion.

The company says it will use low-carbon technology in its processing.

Sean Sargent, chief executive of Green Lithium, said: “The electric revolution is fundamental to reducing the carbon emissions that contribute to global climate change and ensuring net zero targets can be met.

“Green Lithium’s refinery will accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and sustainable energy storage through the increased supply of low-carbon, battery-grade lithium chemicals – a key component of lithium-ion batteries.”

Read more:Britain’s best-kept industrial secret is an unexpected solution to saving the planet

Podcast Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this. Open Privacy Options

Subscribe to ClimateCast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker.

Socrates Economou, global head of battery metals for Trafigura, said the project “has the potential to revolutionise the European supply chain for EV production and sustainable energy storage at this critical time in the energy transition”.