After black gold, it’s time for white gold, the famous lithium that so many manufacturers covet for their electric cars.

In Alsace, a collaboration between French mining group Eramet and Électrcité de Strasbourg has just begun pilot plant for direct extraction of lithium from geothermal waters. The initiative is part of growing demand for lithium in Europe, particularly for the production of electric batteries, while the sale of new diesel locomotives will be banned in the European Union from 2035.

Europe is lagging behind

Today in France, in Europe, we produce very little or no lithiumand to meet the needs of the future gigafactories, those booming battery factories emerging from the ground in the famous “Battery Valley” in the north of France, these mines will undoubtedly become essential to control their production.

The pilot site, located at the Rittershoffen geothermal power plant, aims to test the efficiency of the direct lithium extraction process developed by Eramet. This process, originally developed in Argentina, where Eramet will soon develop one of the largest lithium deposits in the world, has been adapted to the geothermal waters of Alsace.

The Rittershoffen power plant, which has been operating since 2016, uses 170-degree water from deep underground to generate geothermal energy. This clear, very salty water contains, among other elements, lithium. After the heat is removed, the lithium is collected using an active solid that acts as a “lithium sponge”.

The system operates in a closed loop, allowing calories and lithium to be extracted from the geothermal water, which is then re-injected directly into the system.

Is lithium mined in France? Yes, but not for tomorrow

The test, carried out at the Rittershoffen power plant, which is planned to last at least six months, aims to guarantee the stability of the active extraction material in Alsace conditions and to verify the lithium recovery efficiency, which already reaches 90% in Argentina.

If successful, this pilot project could lead to investments of several hundred million euros. The final decision is expected in 2026. Eramet also plans to develop new drilling by 2030 with the aim of producing at least 10,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year in Alsace, thus meeting the needs of around 250,000 electric vehicle batteries each year.

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