Project duration: 1.1.2022 – 31.12.2024

Objective

BrineRIS project aims to build RIS countries’ capacity on carbon-neutral critical raw materials (CRM) recovery from geothermal brines. To decrease the dependency of Europe on imported metals for battery production, BrineRIS will identify prospective deposits of brine and test emerging recovery technologies. By developing an interactive platform and investment case study, BrineRIS will attract investors to RIS regions participating in our project.

The solution (technology)

Limited access to critical raw materials (CRM) is the main obstacle to developing the high-tech and battery sectors. Thanks to the striking development of efficient soluble elements recovery technologies, highly mineralised water (brine) is a potential unconventional source of metals. Usually occurring at great depths, under conditions of high pressure and hot temperatures, brines mineralised up to 300-350 g/L may contain economic concentrations of metallic elements, such as CRM from EU 2021 list (Li, Mg, Sr), Na, Ba and others. Exploring non-obvious resources, such as brines, and innovative technologies to ensure sustainable exploitation will increase the feasibility of a secured European supply of battery metals, supporting European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) vision “to secure access to critical and strategic raw materials, advanced materials, and processing know-how for EU Industrial Ecosystems”. As shown by, e.g. British company Cornish Lithium and Australian-German Vulcan Energy Group, building a new eco-friendly company that provides the raw materials for the green industrial revolution based on thermal brines is possible.


The technology needed for the recovery of metallic elements from brines is under development in a number of KAVA projects e.g., EuGeLi or Morecovery. However, the location of brines, with reliable and stable sources of metals, is still an open question. Our BrineRIS project will locate brines in Europe suitable for economically feasible metal recovery and test the emerging recovery technologies in the lab. Focusing on RIS countries of the Iberian Peninsula and Visegrad Group, in which thermal brines resources are proven, the BrineRIS project will deliver verified information on brines enriched in Li and other valuable elements. Special attention will be paid to existing mine water inflows and operating geothermal wells. The use of the available thermal energy on brines enables a regenerative supply of buildings with heat and cold. Compared to the supply with fossil fuels, at least 60 % of CO2 emissions are saved (Kagel & Gawell, 2005). Crucially, BrineRIS interactive platform will be developed based on the structure of the European Lithium Institute’s (eLi) Li – projects database. The data gathered on available brine deposits, current projects, legal matters, and technological assessment for metal recovery and geothermal energy production serve as the foreground for future projects and European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) investment cases. Good practice, experience, and know-how will be shared by testing emerging recovery technologies under development by non-RIS partners (UGent, GTK, TUBAF) in RIS – countries. Thus, BrineRIS will foster innovation and entrepreneurship, result in job opportunities and build the RM capacity of RIS partner countries.

Partners:

  • Politechnika Wroclawska (Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, WUST), Poland (Lead Partner)
  • Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas M.P., CSIC (Spanish National Research Council), Spain
  • Czech Geological Survey, Czech Republic
  • European Lithium Institute eLi, Belgium
  • Geologian tutkimuskeskus, GTK (Geological Survey of Finland), Finland
  • Ghent University, Belgium
  • KGHM Polska Miedz Spólka Akcyjna, Poland
  • Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute, Poland
  • Redstone Exploration Services Sp. z o.o., Poland
  • Rotaqua KFT, Hungary
  • State geological institute of Dionýz Štúr, Slovakia
  • Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF), Germany
  • University of Miskolc, Hungary

Find out more on the official project website.