ThermIon

Raw materials are of crucial importance to the European economy and form a solid foundation for a wide range of everyday technologies. Reliable and unobstructed access to certain, often critical, raw materials is an increasing concern within the EU and worldwide. Recently, scientists have been exploring geothermal brines as a potential resource for raw material extraction. Key questions in this area include the potential and sustainability of extraction processes. The AGW conducts research within the framework of the ThermIon project in close collaboration with partners from science and industry.

ThermIon pursues two main objectives: 

• A comprehensive ressource assessment of lithium and other raw materials in the geothermal aquifers of the Upper Rhine Graben, with a view to long-term, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable utilisation.
• The development and testing of an environmentally friendly, economically attractive, and highly innovative extraction technology, initially focused on the selective extraction of lithium.

Our primary focus is on the first objective: we evaluate and assess the potential raw material occurences in geothermal fluids in the Upper Rhine Graben and across Europe. Additionally, we identify possible critical raw materials and extraction technologies, and experimentally test the effects of extraction procedures on fluid composition and reservoir conditions using numerical models. This enables us to develop strategies for the long-term, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable extraction of raw materials.

For more information: https://thermion.info/

Contact persons: