Green Lithium, the UK’s first large-scale lithium refinery, has been granted planning permission for a 58-acre development in Teesside. The refinery, located on PD Ports’ Teesport site, is expected to support 1,200 jobs during its construction phase and create 250 full-time positions once operational. The facility aims to meet the increasing demand for lithium processing capabilities in the automotive and battery manufacturing industries, driven by the global shift towards electric vehicles (EVs).
The CEO of Green Lithium, Sean Sargent, expressed his excitement about setting up the refinery, emphasizing its ideal location for producing low-carbon and environmentally-friendly lithium. The plant will have an annual production capacity of 50,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium chemicals, helping to meet the growing demand in Europe.
One of Green Lithium’s key objectives is to establish leading environmental, social, and governance credentials. The company plans to achieve this by reducing its carbon footprint and emissions. The refinery in Teesside will employ low-energy processes, renewable electricity, hydrogen gas, and carbon capture technology, resulting in a 75% lower carbon footprint compared to traditional refineries. Additionally, the plant will utilize a non-acid leach process that has a minimal environmental impact, making it a sustainable and low-carbon refining method.
Green Lithium aims to set higher environmental standards within the industry and support the acceleration of the adoption of EVs and sustainable energy storage. The success of Europe’s battery energy, storage, and automotive sectors relies on localized supply, which the refinery aims to provide.
Nusrat Ghani, the minister for the Department for Business and Trade, referred to the approval of the refinery as an exciting development and milestone for Green Lithium. Ghani highlighted the importance of lithium as an essential component of batteries and emphasized the need for a secure supply to support the automotive and green energy industries.
Green Lithium submitted its planning application to Redcar and Cleveland Council in April, and it was approved by the local authority last week. The company has already secured £13m of funding and is currently raising further capital.
Overall, the approval of the UK’s first large-scale lithium refinery is a significant step towards meeting the increasing demand for lithium processing in the region. The facility’s commitment to low-carbon processes and sustainability aligns with the goals of the automotive and battery manufacturing industries as they transition towards cleaner energy sources such as EVs.
