Hi All,
Even though this newspaper article was published on November 23rd, 2023, I would like to share it with you. I was unaware of this information and am now very uncertain about Vulcan's future success. Are you already familiar with this article?
Source is “SWR Aktuell”, a local German TV station.
Here is the link:
https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/rheinland-pfalz/ludwigshafen/geothermiekraftwerk-landau-steht-still-vor-einweihung-der-lithium-versuchsanlage-100.html"Landau geothermal power plant has been out of operation for ten monthswas standingNovember 23, 2023 , 1:01 p.mShare on Facebookshare on the short message service Xshare via emailThe geothermal power plant in Landau has been shut down - since the end of January. According to the State Office for Geology and Mining, the reason is “aging processes” in the system technology.The State Office for Geology and Mining examines and approves systems for generating geothermal energy from deep geothermal energy in Rhineland-Palatinate. The office also controls these power plants. In the Landau geothermal power plant, when the system technology was checked, signs of wear and tear were found, the state office told SWR-Aktuell. That's why the plant had to be shut down: "The geothermal power plant in Landau has not produced any electricity since January 24th, 2023."The geothermal power plant in Landau in spring 2023.Mining office: Geothermal power plant will remain out of operation for the time beingThe power plant operator, Geox, is currently planning further inspections and repairs to the system, according to the state authority. The power plant may only be restarted once the company has proven to the mining authority that the entire system can be operated safely and reliably. The operating company has not yet responded to several SWR inquiries.Explosive: On Thursday, the Karlsruhe company Vulcan Energy wants to officially inaugurate a test facility for the extraction of lithium. The so-called lithium extraction optimization plant (LEOP) is located directly at the Landau geothermal power plant. The aim of the system is to extract lithium from deep water on a larger scale. Until now, the company had only proven this in the laboratory. This lithium from Landau will later be used in the European battery and automotive industries.The inner workings of the facility in Landau.Does the lithium optimization system now have a problem?What the standstill means for Vulcan? On Wednesday evening, the company sent a statement and wrote: “The system was designed so that it can be operated flexibly.” If the geothermal power plant in Landau is not in operation, there are two options.Deep water by truck from Insheim to Landau?Either the natural pressure that occurs in Landau and is associated with “lower flow rates” is used. Or the so-called brine is transported by truck from the company's own geothermal power plant in nearby Insheim (Südliche Weinstraße district) to Landau. The company Vulcan Energy says that the experimental plant for lithium extraction can then be operated.Components of a lithium-ion batteryWith the plant, the German-Australian company wants to test and optimize the lithium extraction process it has developed on a larger scale. The lithium chloride extracted from the brine in Landau is to be transported to Frankfurt-Höchst in order to be processed into battery-compatible lithium in its own factory. Initially this should be 45 tonnes per year.According to its own information, Vulcan Energy plans to open a plant in Landau in 2026 in which lithium will be extracted on a much larger scale."
(20min delay)