Siemens and Vulcan Energy have joined forces to advance Europe’s first fully integrated lithium and renewable energy project, with the two companies signing a framework agreement for the Lionheart lithium and renewable energy project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley. The companies have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), making Siemens a preferred supplier of automation and digitalisation technology for Vulcan Energy until 2035. Vulcan’s preference for Siemens will extend beyond Lionheart to include future phases of development.
Lionheart involves the construction of an integrated lithium and renewable energy project targeting production capacity of 24,000 tons of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM), enough for ca. 500,000 electric vehicle batteries per annum, with a co-product of 275GWh of renewable power and 560GWh of heat per annum for local consumers, over an estimated 30-year project life.
“As both a strategic investor and a key technology partner, we are helping Vulcan Energy establish Europe’s first major sustainable source of lithium,” said Roland Busch (pictured above), President and CEO of Siemens AG. “With our technology – from advanced automation and digitalisation to smart building solutions – we help to ramp-up production faster. This is essential to create a local lithium supply for our energy transition and a more competitive, resilient and sustainable European industry. It is a powerful example of strengthening growth and competitiveness in line with the Made for Germany initiative.”
“The agreement reflects the growing strength of our partnership with Siemens and reinforces our confidence in delivering the objectives of Vulcan’s Lionheart Project. This partnership is an important step in unlocking future opportunities for growth, as we progress toward our goal of decarbonising Europe’s battery supply chain,” commented Cris Moreno, Vulcan’s Managing Director and CEO.
The agreement focuses on two key technologies. It will provide comprehensive automation and digitalisation capabilities by delivering end-to-end project solutions from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio – including advanced instrumentation, distributed control systems, digital twin technology, industrial network, IT security and analytics that will enable integrated operations from resource extraction to final production. The agreement will also provide smart infrastructure solutions from across Siemens’ buildings portfolio.
Siemens has also played a key role in the financing of Lionheart. When the transaction closes, Siemens Financial Services (SFS) will become a minority investor and part of a strategic investor consortium that includes HOCHTIEF and Demea Sustainable Investment. SFS also introduced the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), an international financing partner, into the Lionheart debt consortium.
The partnership’s integrated approach will enable Vulcan to operate a multi-site project in the Upper Rhine Valley and Frankfurt region. This partnership is in line with the EU’s ambition to increase resource independence and strengthen the e-mobility supply chain, with the project classified as a Strategic Project under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act.
