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Vulcan Energy Breaks Ground in Germany After Securing €2.2 Billion for Geothermal Lithium Project

Public backing secures a €2.2 billion package to shift Vulcan’s geothermal lithium plan into construction.

Overview

  • The financing totals about €2.193–€2.2 billion, including up to €150 million from Germany’s federal Raw Materials Fund and an early €120 million approval from Export Finance Australia, with additional support from the EIB, Export Development Canada, Denmark’s export and investment fund, Bpifrance Assurance Export and SACE.
  • A ceremonial groundbreaking in Landau launched work on a geothermal and lithium‑extraction hub that will also provide district heat to the city.
  • Vulcan targets commercial output by 2028 of roughly 20,000–24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate per year, with processing planned at Frankfurt‑Höchst.
  • The company says its first decade of production is fully contracted to buyers including Stellantis, LG Chem, Glencore and Umicore.
  • Hochtief has emerged as a key partner by investing about €169 million and supplying extraction‑plant technology under a €337 million contract, while pilot facilities in Landau and Frankfurt continue to produce small quantities.