Vulcan Energy Advances Lionheart with Civil Construction Underway in Germany
Vulcan Energy has kicked off civil construction at its Lionheart geothermal power plant in Landau, marking a key milestone in its integrated lithium and renewable energy project targeting 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually.
- Civil construction begins at Lionheart geothermal plant
- Project targets 24,000 tonnes lithium hydroxide per year
- Co-produces 275 GWh renewable power and 560 GWh heat
- On time and on budget progress confirmed
- Supports production for 500,000 EV batteries annually
Civil Construction Commences at Lionheart Power Plant
Vulcan Energy (ASX:VUL) has moved beyond early bulk earthworks to initiate civil construction activities at its Lionheart 30MW geothermal power plant site in Landau, Germany. This phase includes laying foundations, concrete works for buildings and equipment, and expanding road infrastructure, setting the stage for building erection and process equipment assembly.
Integrated Lithium and Renewable Energy Production
Situated in the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field straddling Germany and France, Lionheart is Vulcan’s flagship project combining geothermal energy generation with lithium extraction. The facility aims to produce 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate annually; enough for roughly 500,000 electric vehicle batteries; alongside 275 GWh of renewable power and 560 GWh of heat for local consumers over an estimated 30-year lifespan.
Strategic Importance and Project Scale
The project’s commercial footprint spans approximately ten hectares within the Messegelände Südost industrial park. Its design integrates geothermal baseload power with lithium chloride intermediate production, connected via interlinked pipelines and power cables that circulate lithium brine and industrial water between well sites and the Landau plant for underground reinjection. This setup aims to deliver low-cost lithium production insulated from volatile energy prices.
Progress on Schedule and Budget
CEO Cris Moreno highlighted the significance of this construction milestone, noting that the Lionheart project is advancing on time and on budget. The commencement of civil works follows the company’s recent financial close on a €2.2 billion funding package and the start of construction at the lithium chemicals plant in Frankfurt earlier this year. Vulcan is steadily building Europe’s cost-competitive lithium supply backed by renewable energy.
Implications for European Energy and EV Supply Chains
Lionheart’s dual focus on renewable energy and critical raw materials positions it as a lighthouse project for Europe’s energy security and electric vehicle supply chain resilience. The co-production of geothermal power and heat alongside lithium hydroxide supports decarbonisation efforts and local energy needs, while the lithium output targets a substantial share of the European EV battery market.
Bottom Line?
Civil construction at Lionheart signals tangible progress in Vulcan’s integrated lithium and geothermal strategy, with upcoming milestones likely to shape Europe’s green energy and battery materials landscape.
Questions in the middle?
- How will ongoing energy price fluctuations impact Lionheart’s operational costs and lithium pricing?
- What are the key regulatory or environmental hurdles remaining for full project commissioning?
- How will Vulcan manage scaling production beyond the initial 24,000 tonnes lithium hydroxide target?
