New lithium refinery will support the UK’s growing EV market

Green Lithium has secured funding to build Europe’s first large-scale lithium refinery to enable the UK to produce electric vehicles batteries at home. 

There is currently no commercial lithium refining capability of scale in Europe, leaving the continent’s rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) and sustainable energy storage sectors reliant on China. 

Green Lithium aims to fill the missing link in the EV supply chain, by using the grant to connect the UK and Europe’s lithium battery manufacturers with abundant sources of lithium. 

The founders have said that this new hub will be critical in accelerating the transition to electric vehicles and meeting governmental net-zero targets. 

The £631,000grant from the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s (APC) Automotive Transformation Fund will support the development of this new hyb. 

It is projected that the UK and European EV industries will require 1.4m tonnes of refined battery-grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate per year by 2030, meaning a growth of more than 400% in supply is needed over the next ten years. 

Richard Taylor, founding director at Green Lithium, said: ‘The electric revolution is fundamental to reducing the carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

‘However, in order to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and meet net-zero targets, we need to increase and diversify the supply of low-carbon, battery-grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate.

‘By providing the missing link in the supply chain, Green Lithium aims to become the gateway to, and critical enabler for, the UK and European electric vehicle market. We are committed to achieving a carbon net-zero operation, targeting 2030, and providing a secure, local, low-carbon source of refined battery-grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate with 100% traceability for the lithium-ion battery industry.’

In related news, researchers are developing a new battery that can offer a safe and more environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional lithium-ion battery.

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