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Geothermal power has long been overlooked by the clean energy family. Despite its proven potential, it is often undervalued by solar and wind power. But that may soon change – for an unexpected reason.
Geothermal technologies are on the verge of unlocking vast quantities of lithium from naturally occurring hot brines beneath places like California’s Salton SeaIt is a two-hour drive from San Diego.
Lithium is essential for lithium-ion batteriesThese batteries are used to power electric vehicles and energy storage. The demand for these batteries is rapidly rising, but it is not yet affordable. The U.S. relies heavily on lithium imports for its current energy needs.From Other countries – most of the nation’s lithium supply comes from Argentina, Chile, Russia and China. The United States could be able to recover crucial minerals from geothermal brines. This could have significant implications for energy and mineral safety, global supply chains, workforce transitions, and geopolitics.
As a GeologistWho works with geothermal brines or an Energy policy scholar, we believe this technology can bolster the nation’s critical minerals supply chain at a time when concerns about the supply chain’s securityThey are on the rise.
Berkshire Hathaway Energy
Enough lithium to far exceed today’s US demand
Geothermal power plants harness heat from the Earth in order to generate steam that is used to power turbines that produce electric electricity. The plants work by bringing up a complex solution of saline that is deep underground. It absorbs heat and is enriched in minerals like lithium, manganese and zinc.
Geothermal brines The concentrated liquid left overAfter heat and steam are extracted at the geothermal plants. In the Salton Sea plants, these brines contain high concentrations – about 30% – of dissolved solids.
If the current tests prove that these brines can be economically extracted from battery-grade lithium, then 11 existing geothermal plants located along the Salton Sea could produce enough lithium metal for about a quarter of a million people. 10 timesThe current U.S. demand.
Three geothermal operators from Salton Sea are currently in various stages of designing and constructing pilot plants for direct lithium extraction using hot brines.
The 11 power plants located near the Salton Sea could produce approximately 432 megawatts of electricity at full capacity. 20,000 metric tonnes of lithium metalPer year. At current prices, the annual market value for this metal would exceed $5 billion.
Jesse Allen/NASA Earth Observatory
Geopolitical risk in the lithium supply chain
Existing lithium supply chains are fraught with uncertainties, which pose a risk to mineral security for the United States.
Russia’s war in UkraineChina’s competition, as well as Close ties between Russia & ChinaThese words highlight the geopolitical implications for the transformation to clean, mineral-intensive energy.
China is currently the world leader in lithium processingAnd actively procures lithium resources from other major producers. Chinese state mining operators often own minesOther countries produce other vital clean energy minerals, such as nickel and cobalt.
There is currently One lithium production facilityThe U.S. This facility is located in Nevada and extracts saline liquid from the ground to concentrate the lithium. Allow the water to evaporateIn Large, shallow ponds. The process of extracting lithium while producing geothermal energy returns the water, brines and minerals to the earth. The United States and its allies could benefit from a second domestic source of lithium to increase their energy and mineral security.
A lack of policy support
Today, geothermal power is a significant source of energy Less than 0.5%Utilities-scale electricity generation in America
It is still a stagnant energy technology in America due to the absence of strong policy support. Preliminary findings a research study being conducted by one of us indicate that part of the problem is rooted in disagreements among older and newer geothermal companies themselves, including how they talk about geothermal energy’s benefits with policymakers, investors, the media and the public.
Geothermal power has the ability to complement solar and wind energy as a baseload power source – It is constant, unlike sunshine and wind – and to provide energy and mineral security. It could also serve as a professional bridge to help employees of oil, gas, and coal transition into the clean energy economy.
Policies like these could be a boon to the industry. risk mitigation fundsGrant programs are available to help demonstrate innovation and lower drilling exploration costs. long-term power contractsOr tax incentives.
Geothermal electricity producers could have a competitive advantage by adding the production of critical metals such lithium, manganese, zinc from geothermal salts.
California gives geothermal energy a boost
Geothermal energy producers might be seeing positive trends.
In February, the California Public Utilities Commission approved a new policy. Preferred System Plan encourages the state’s development of 1,160 megawattsnew geothermal power. That’s on top of a 2021: 1,000 megawatts to be purchased from zero emissions, renewable, firm generating resources with an 80% capacity factor – which can only be met by geothermal technologies.
[Over 150,000 readers rely on The Conversation’s newsletters to understand the world. Sign up today.]California’s decisions were intended to complement intermittent renewable energies like solar or wind, and to retire the Diablo Canyon nuke power plant. These decisions suggest that geothermal may be the last forgotten renewable energy source.
