The European Union’s goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 is driving the search for new domestic lithium (Li) sources. The demand for high-performance Li compounds is projected to surge due to the increasing need for electric vehicles and other lithium-based technologies.
Recent studies indicate that by 2040, up to 90% of lithium demand will originate from the battery manufacturing sector, significantly promoting environmentally friendly technologies. Unlike other battery materials, such as nickel or cobalt, lithium is irreplaceable in lithium-ion batteries, leading to its rapidly growing demand.
The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has forecasted substantial increases in material demand within the EU, particularly in the electric mobility sector. In a high-demand scenario, lithium demand for batteries is expected to increase by 12 times compared to 2020 levels by 2030, and by 21 times by 2050.
MNLT’s Role in the project
MNLT is tasked with evaluating the economic, environmental and social impact of the project, employing in-house developed and tested LCA and LCC methodologies to select the most promising technologies for pilot demonstration. MNLT will then support the exploitation of the solutions developed by creating long-term growth-focused business models.
Establish an innovative value chain for EU Lithium Raw Materials, developing technologies to extract battery-grade lithium from underutilized ores and mining tailings.
