Gigantic lithium deposits discovered: opportunity or risk for Saxony-Anhalt?

Gigantic lithium deposits discovered: opportunity or risk for Saxony-Anhalt?

In the German debate about raw materials for the energy transition, an exciting topic is haunting the media: lithium. It is the key building block for the popular lithium-ion batteries that power not only our smartphones, but also the batteries for electric vehicles. Beneath the Altmark in northern Saxony-Anhalt is now one of the largest known lithium deposits in the world, estimated at an impressive 43 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. These figures come from Neptune Energy and are based on an external report, which makes this quite exciting as this amount could have the potential to significantly influence supply in the market.

But before we get into a celebratory mood: The 43 million tons refer to resources and not to the economically recoverable volume. There are a total of around 114 million tonnes of proven reserves worldwide, while the total resources are around 500 million tonnes. However, this greed for raw materials also has its downsides, as lithium is currently mined primarily in South America and Australia, which is associated with high CO2 emissions and a heavy burden on the environment.

New perspectives in Germany

One reason for hope: Germany is looking for its own lithium deposits in order to reduce its dependence on imports from countries such as Chile, Australia and China. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Energy have now identified potential deposits in Lower Saxony and Brandenburg. Lithium levels of up to 600 milligrams per liter were detected in hydrothermal fluids, increasing the total lithium potential to an estimated 0.39 to 26.51 million tons. This could be economically worthwhile, especially since annual lithium demand could rise to around 0.17 million tons by 2030. This is a clear step towards independence that is worth seeing! MDR reports that the development of such deposits could be urgently necessary in the future.

Neptune Energy is also pursuing an innovative method for extracting lithium from deep water. The strategy involves extracting lithium directly from the water before pumping it back again. This technology should work without harmful residues and could be combined with geothermal energy. An exciting prospect, but one that also entails risks. Raw materials expert Michael Reckordt warns of possible contamination of drinking water through deep drilling and calls for appropriate participation of the local population and a reform of German mining law.

The look into the future

Where the journey takes us is of interest not only to the large manufacturers, but also to society as a whole. Another thing to keep in mind is that CATL plans to bring sodium-ion batteries onto the market from 2026 that want to use conventional salt as an alternative to lithium. Research is also progressing on solid-state batteries, which could potentially be available in pilot series from 2027 and have a higher energy density. However, they also need lithium in the initial phase.

The developments surrounding lithium are both a sign of progress and a challenge that needs to be overcome. It remains exciting to see how Germany can implement its ambitions in raw material extraction and what role lithium actually plays in this. Energiezukunft has already provided initial insights that make you think.