Occidental and BHE Renewables Partner for Sustainable Lithium Production
Occidental Petroleum and BHE Renewables have announced a joint venture (JV) to utilize TerraLithium’s Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology for environmentally sustainable lithium production. This collaboration will focus on extracting high-purity lithium compounds from geothermal brine, leveraging the expertise of both companies.
The project will take place at BHE Renewables' geothermal facility in California’s Imperial Valley, which currently processes 50,000 gallons of lithium-rich brine per minute to produce 345MW of clean energy. The JV will demonstrate the feasibility of TerraLithium’s patented DLE technology in producing lithium safely and sustainably. Upon successful demonstration, BHE Renewables plans to construct and operate commercial lithium production facilities in the region.
Alicia Knapp, President and CEO of BHE Renewables, emphasized the importance of this partnership: “This JV represents a significant advancement in our commitment to environmentally safe and commercially viable lithium production, positioning the Imperial Valley as a global leader in lithium extraction.”
The JV also aims to license TerraLithium’s technology for broader commercial use, potentially developing additional lithium production sites outside the Imperial Valley. Lithium’s role as a critical component in electric vehicle batteries, consumer electronics, and energy grid storage aligns with the International Renewable Energy Agency’s forecast of a tenfold increase in lithium demand between 2020 and 2030.
Richard Jackson, President of Occidental’s US Onshore Resources and Carbon Management, Operations, highlighted the combined strengths of the JV: “By leveraging Occidental’s expertise in brine management and BHE Renewables’ knowledge of geothermal operations, we are uniquely positioned to advance sustainable lithium production and contribute to global net-zero goals.”
