Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CRM-geothermal (CRM-geothermal: Raw materials from geothermal fluids: occurrence, enrichment, extraction)
Reporting period: 2022-05-01 to 2023-10-31
The energy and digital transitions require a large amount of mineral raw materials, some of which are considered ‘critical’ by the European Union. These Critical Raw Materials (CRM) are predominantly imported from non-European countries, where environmental and ethical standards may be less strict than in the EU. However, the EU has largely untapped resources at its disposal in geothermal fluids, some of which contain significant amounts of CRMs. The project CRM-geothermal therefore proposes to combine the extraction of mineral raw materials and geothermal heat, a renewable energy resource from the ground that is available 24 hours per day.
Preliminary calculations show that extraction of CRM from geothermal fluids has the potential to produce significant amounts 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.
Although CRM are known to occur in geothermal fluids, there are still many uncertainties concerning their occurrence in different geological settings and the sustainability of their extraction. The actual extraction process is also a major challenge, requiring technology development. Hence, the project has the following objectives:
- Establish an overview of the potential in geothermal fluids for a large range of CRM elements across the EU and third countries;
- Determine the source of selected CRM, their mobility and potential for sustained extraction from geothermal brines;
- Develop and optimise innovative extraction technologies for selected CRM from geothermal brines that can form a business case for new EU SMEs;
- Assess the environmental-social-economic viability and foster ethical sourcing of CRM;
- Demonstrate at a pilot site the extraction technology for at least one CRM at the scale of a miniplant and evaluate the total sustainability of the system.
The possibility to replace conventional mines with extraction of CRM from geothermal brines offers a path to a socially acceptable and environmentally friendly mining industry.
Preliminary calculations show that extraction of CRM from geothermal fluids has the potential to produce significant amounts 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.
Although CRM are known to occur in geothermal fluids, there are still many uncertainties concerning their occurrence in different geological settings and the sustainability of their extraction. The actual extraction process is also a major challenge, requiring technology development. Hence, the project has the following objectives:
- Establish an overview of the potential in geothermal fluids for a large range of CRM elements across the EU and third countries;
- Determine the source of selected CRM, their mobility and potential for sustained extraction from geothermal brines;
- Develop and optimise innovative extraction technologies for selected CRM from geothermal brines that can form a business case for new EU SMEs;
- Assess the environmental-social-economic viability and foster ethical sourcing of CRM;
- Demonstrate at a pilot site the extraction technology for at least one CRM at the scale of a miniplant and evaluate the total sustainability of the system.
The possibility to replace conventional mines with extraction of CRM from geothermal brines offers a path to a socially acceptable and environmentally friendly mining industry.
In its first reporting period, the CRM-geothermal project has made major steps toward the achievement of above mentioned objectives:
- Development of the Geothermal Fluid-CRM Atlas with quantitative information (which CRM occur in which geothermal-geological context) as a basis for decision-making: The data collection is ongoing, a first version of the database is already established and the workflow of the refined data collection and data harmonisation is described in the Deliverable 1.1. Machine Learning algorithms (“random forest”) were used to uncover patterns by discerning relationships between CRMs and chemical elements coexisting in fluid samples.
- Qualitative information for specific geothermal-geological settings to understand where increased CRM can be expected and how sustainable extraction can be: The pre-existing knowledge on the 5 geological settings has been collated in one Deliverable (2.1). Petrological investigations on host rocks and leaching experiments are indicating dissolution rates and total CRM content of the host rocks.
- Different extraction technologies applicable to different geothermal environments (e.g. selective ion exchange, liquid-liquid extraction, bio-accumulation, gas membrane extraction): Several approaches (GDEx, membrane and adsorption technologies) have been successfully tested in the lab. Further refinement of the technologies and tests under various conditions are ongoing.
- Economic assessments for different CRM and different settings: Material flow analyses (MFA) for Lithium extraction for one extraction technology and one site has been completed. MFA for other extraction technologies developed in CRM-geothermal will be conducted in the next period.
- UNFC compliant reporting template for combined extraction is currently developed.
- Testing at pilot site: Hydraulic and chemical tests at the pilot site in Cornwall have been completed and provide valuable data for the reservoir characterisation. Additionally, previously and current social engagement strategies at the pilot site have been evaluated.
- Development of the Geothermal Fluid-CRM Atlas with quantitative information (which CRM occur in which geothermal-geological context) as a basis for decision-making: The data collection is ongoing, a first version of the database is already established and the workflow of the refined data collection and data harmonisation is described in the Deliverable 1.1. Machine Learning algorithms (“random forest”) were used to uncover patterns by discerning relationships between CRMs and chemical elements coexisting in fluid samples.
- Qualitative information for specific geothermal-geological settings to understand where increased CRM can be expected and how sustainable extraction can be: The pre-existing knowledge on the 5 geological settings has been collated in one Deliverable (2.1). Petrological investigations on host rocks and leaching experiments are indicating dissolution rates and total CRM content of the host rocks.
- Different extraction technologies applicable to different geothermal environments (e.g. selective ion exchange, liquid-liquid extraction, bio-accumulation, gas membrane extraction): Several approaches (GDEx, membrane and adsorption technologies) have been successfully tested in the lab. Further refinement of the technologies and tests under various conditions are ongoing.
- Economic assessments for different CRM and different settings: Material flow analyses (MFA) for Lithium extraction for one extraction technology and one site has been completed. MFA for other extraction technologies developed in CRM-geothermal will be conducted in the next period.
- UNFC compliant reporting template for combined extraction is currently developed.
- Testing at pilot site: Hydraulic and chemical tests at the pilot site in Cornwall have been completed and provide valuable data for the reservoir characterisation. Additionally, previously and current social engagement strategies at the pilot site have been evaluated.
The introduction of radically new concepts for minerals extraction, such as the one offered by CRM-geothermal, provides access to the colossal untapped potential of mineral brines. CRM-geothermal will provide Europe with an alternative extraction technology that utilises a ‘green’ energy technology as a stepping stone for the production of valuable mineral raw materials, avoiding most negative environmental and social impacts associated with conventional mining. The proposed innovative extraction technology will also decrease the dependency of the European economy on CRM imports and small companies will have the chance to develop their own “green mining project” or mining technologies independently from large mining concerns.
The CRM-geothermal Fluid atlas provides a comprehensive overview over the occurrence and distribution of CRMs in geothermal fluids and thus the data to assess their potential economic value in systems of co-production of geothermal energy and CRMs. The Fluid Atlas provides the knowledgebase for further research in the field of mineral extraction from geothermal fluids in addition to the ongoing projects on Lithium extraction. It will also enable investors and exploration companies to make strategic decisions, reduce the financial risk of co-production projects and thus speeds up time to market availability.
CRM-geothermal develops a UNFC/UNRMS compatible reporting template for the combined extraction. This will foster comparative assessments of different extraction methods and improve transparency for end-users/stakeholders within the EU and in third countries.
The extraction technologies developed in the project are optimised for usage in a co-production with geothermal energy. At the same time, the knowledge will be helpful in developing extraction approaches for application in recycling or site remediation. CRM-geothermal has successfully tested adsorbents, membrane technologies, microbiological approaches and gas diffusion electrocrystallisation for Lithium extraction as well as membranes for Helium extraction.
The CRM-geothermal Fluid atlas provides a comprehensive overview over the occurrence and distribution of CRMs in geothermal fluids and thus the data to assess their potential economic value in systems of co-production of geothermal energy and CRMs. The Fluid Atlas provides the knowledgebase for further research in the field of mineral extraction from geothermal fluids in addition to the ongoing projects on Lithium extraction. It will also enable investors and exploration companies to make strategic decisions, reduce the financial risk of co-production projects and thus speeds up time to market availability.
CRM-geothermal develops a UNFC/UNRMS compatible reporting template for the combined extraction. This will foster comparative assessments of different extraction methods and improve transparency for end-users/stakeholders within the EU and in third countries.
The extraction technologies developed in the project are optimised for usage in a co-production with geothermal energy. At the same time, the knowledge will be helpful in developing extraction approaches for application in recycling or site remediation. CRM-geothermal has successfully tested adsorbents, membrane technologies, microbiological approaches and gas diffusion electrocrystallisation for Lithium extraction as well as membranes for Helium extraction.