Vulcan Energy Resources is a sustainable energy company focused on producing carbon-neutral lithium and renewable energy. Founded in 2018, the company operates in Europe’s Upper Rhine Valley, where it extracts lithium from naturally heated subsurface brine while generating geothermal power. Through its innovative Zero Carbon LithiumTM Project, Vulcan aims to supply the European battery and automotive industries with locally-sourced, sustainable lithium hydroxide. The company’s Phase One Lionheart Project is designed to produce enough lithium for approximately 500,000 electric vehicles annually, with plans to double capacity through Phase Two development.
Battery Technology
Vulcan’s approach to lithium production centers on its proprietary VULSORB technology, which extracts dissolved lithium from geothermal waters through an advanced physical filtering system. This process allows lithium to bind to specialized filters while enabling the return of thermal water underground, minimizing environmental impact. The extracted lithium is processed into battery-grade lithium hydroxide, essential for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries.
The company’s integrated approach combines lithium extraction with geothermal energy production, ensuring a carbon-neutral operation that requires no fossil fuels. This dual-purpose strategy not only produces sustainable lithium but also generates renewable baseload power and heat. The process yields high-purity lithium hydroxide suitable for cathode production in lithium-ion batteries, meeting the strict quality requirements of European automotive manufacturers.
Recent Projects
In early 2025, Vulcan initiated a significant partnership with BASF to explore geothermal energy potential at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site. The collaboration includes plans for a seismic survey and the implementation of Vulcan’s adsorption-type direct lithium extraction technology. The company also opened its Central Lithium Electrolysis Optimisation Plant (CLEOP) in Frankfurt’s Industrial Park Höchst, strengthening Europe’s domestic lithium supply chain. Additionally, Vulcan deployed an electric V20 drilling rig at its phase one Schleidberg well site, marking substantial progress in its geothermal and lithium extraction operations.
Investors
Stellantis stands as Vulcan’s second-largest shareholder following a €50 million equity investment in 2022. The company has secured binding supply agreements with major industry players including Renault Group, Volkswagen Group, Umicore, and LG Energy Solution. The European Investment Bank has approved participation in Phase One financing, supporting Vulcan’s expansion plans. These partnerships demonstrate strong market confidence in Vulcan’s sustainable lithium production model.
Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
Website: https://v-er.eu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/71573299
