Germany’s geothermal energy is investigated by Stellantis and Vulcan

Source : Stellantis and Vulcan investigate German geothermal energy

Stellantis, which builds the DS 4 and Opel Astra in Rüsselsheim, Germany, is considering using geothermal energy to decarbonize the plant.

Starting in 2025, Stellantis claims geothermal energy might satisfy a considerable amount of the industrial site’s yearly energy needs. Vulcan Energy has experience refining lithium from geothermal brine in the Upper Rhine Graben. The Astra and DS 4, including their electric versions, are manufactured at Rüsselsheim.

A term sheet between the automaker and the lithium producer should develop the automaker’s first geothermal energy project. The term sheet covers the first part of a multi-phase project to decarbonize the company’s local energy mix by developing new geothermal projects.

In the northernmost region of Vulcan’s concentration area in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley, Vulcan will conduct a preliminary feasibility assessment for Stellantis’ geothermal plant building. If this investigation is good, a second step will include initial drilling and other studies. Stellantis plans to finance half of the project development, with local government help.

The result is projected to be a geothermal generation facility that generates clean electricity for its own use and the local grid in line with the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). The heat created at the same time will be transported to Stellantis’ production site in Rüsselsheim, Opel’s primary plant.

“Vulcan’s main purpose is decarbonisation, through renewable energy and carbon neutral, zero fossil fuels lithium supply,” stated Dr. Francis Wedin, Vulcan’s Managing Director and CEO. He said that Vulcan is Stellantis’ primary lithium supplier and one of its top shareholders. Vulcan wants to help the automaker decarbonize its European operations, he says. The CEO stated, “While we remain focused on our geothermal-lithium developments in the centre of the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field, this project is a complementary opportunity to expand our development pipeline to some of the outer-lying areas in the Upper Rhine Valley, supported by industrial partners like Stellantis.”