BHERM — Lithium Recovery Demonstration Final Project Report

The Lithium Recovery Demonstration project aimed to enhance California's geothermal resources by introducing advanced lithium recovery technology, potentially positioning California as a leader in global lithium production. The project, which was located in the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area, housing about 40 percent of the world's proven lithium reserves, addressed barriers hindering the utilization of this vast resource for achieving California’s clean energy objectives. By co-producing lithium carbonate — a valuable commodity in the electric vehicle battery market — from geothermal brine, the project sought to improve the economic feasibility of geothermal power plants in California and thus facilitate the state's goals for a clean energy future.

Funded by the California Energy Commission, the project was executed by BHER Minerals, LLC, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Renewables. The project’s goal was to demonstrate a commercially viable lithium recovery process, and the demonstration system was designed, built, and tested. However, the project faced setbacks, leading to the termination of the technology provider's contract due to insufficient progress. This underscored the significance of brine pretreatment in lithium recovery, prompting a shift to alternative technologies focused on enhancing this process.

The project's ambitious goals encompassed not only advancing lithium recovery technologies at a fraction of commercial scale but also contributing to California's clean electricity targets and supporting the clean transportation revolution. Despite challenges, the project's insights into brine pretreatment and ongoing pilot tests continue to guide future endeavors in sustainable lithium recovery and geothermal energy utilization, maintaining the momentum towards achieving California's renewable energy and storage capacities by integrating lithium recovery with geothermal power production.