Northern England-Based Partnership Delivers UK’s First Direct Lithium Extraction Plant

Three companies operating in the north of England – RSE, Northern Lithium, and Evove – have successfully collaborated to deliver the UK’s first commercial-grade Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) plant.

The initiative is a significant milestone in establishing a domestic lithium supply in the UK, powered by UK-developed technology, locally sourced lithium-bearing saline brines, and process engineering expertise.

RSE has played a pivotal role in successfully delivering the commercial-grade DLE plant by providing innovative modular plant systems and comprehensive services, including project management, design, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, testing, and commissioning.

The domestic supply of lithium has fast become a cornerstone of the UK’s energy transition, supporting net-zero targets by 2025 and contributing to the UK Battery Strategy. The landmark project has set a global standard for sustainable lithium production using next-generation membrane-based DLE technology.

Northern Lithium partnered exclusively with Evove, known for its advanced DLE technology, to undertake lithium extraction in August 2024 from Northern Lithium’s Northern Pennine Orefield brines, which was successfully demonstrated at Evove’s UK DLE Test Centre.

Evove’s cutting-edge DLE system delivers a crucial advantage to the project with the ability to extract high-purity lithium using advanced membrane filtration technology. Until traditional methods, this innovative approach will process lithium-rich brines efficiently, reducing energy, water, and chemical use whilst enhancing economic viability.

RSE partnered with Evove’s groundbreaking advanced membrane and DLE process to jointly develop a compact, versatile, and adaptable modular solution that is fully factory-built and tested. This modular approach brings key advantages to the delivery of project, including high quality, reliability, and repeatability, to drive down project costs. The full automation of the plant additionally minimises operational costs with minimal day-to-day supervision, accurate production quality control, and remote monitoring for a quick preventative maintenance response.

Northern Lithium is targeting an initial commercial supply of lithium from its first planned production site in County Durham, by late 2027. Following its success, Northern Lithium aims to expand production across its secured mineral and land rights in the Northern Pennine Orefield, achieving an annual production capacity in excess of 10,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium within a decade. This supply will support UK gigafactories and the electric vehicle (EV) industry, advancing the UK’s vision for self-sufficient EV production using domestic critical minerals.

RSE is delighted to have partnered with Northern Lithium and Evove on the delivery of the UK’s first Direct Lithium Extraction plant and to be contributing towards closing the supply gap for lithium demand in the UK, with a projected 80,000 tonnes of Lithium Carbon Equivalent per year forecasted by 2030.

“We are delighted to see successful delivery and completion of 60-day long term pump tests and in-field demonstration scale Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) trials of the demonstration plant at Ludwell Farm, working alongside our partners at Evove and Northern Lithium.  This marks a major milestone towards the domestic supply of Lithium, securing a resilient and independent supply of critical minerals for the UK’s future“.

RSE’s Managing Director (Chemical & Biological Treatment) Connor Morton said: