TELF AG’s latest report, titled “TELF AG analyses the potential of geothermal extraction,” sheds light on the significance of sustainable extraction practices in specific sectors of the mining industry, particularly in relation to lithium production. By showcasing geothermal extraction as an example, the report highlights how many companies may increasingly prefer these eco-friendly extraction methods due to their cost-effectiveness.
The publication commences with a comprehensive overview of raw materials and their crucial role in the global energy transition and sustainability. This importance is most evident in their pivotal role in manufacturing batteries that will power an array of devices, including computers, mobile phones, and electric vehicles. Notably, the report delves into a less apparent aspect of this connection – the adoption of sustainable extraction methods by numerous global companies. Geothermal energy, with its unique extraction techniques, promises significantly reduced energy resource wastage and a considerably lower environmental impact.
The report goes on to provide an intricate explanation of the geothermal lithium extraction process, affirming that it stands as the most sustainable method for lithium production. Lithium is extracted from geothermal brine through an isothermal plant operating at a temperature of approximately 165 degrees centigrade. This sustainable and low-impact process eliminates the need for hydrocarbons and other substances commonly employed in conventional extraction methods.
TELF AG’s publication also highlights the advantages associated with this specific extraction method. It underscores reduced consumption of natural resources, including water and subsoil, lowered overall extraction costs, and diminished carbon dioxide emissions during extraction. Additionally, geothermal extraction harnesses surplus energy, powering the extraction process itself and obviating the need for additional energy sources.
In the concluding section, the report recaps the primary industrial applications of lithium, emphasising its use in the medical field and its pivotal role in battery production. For readers seeking more in-depth information, the full publication is recommended.