TVL and BP to trial green hydrogen in lithium process

Following a preliminary review, BP and TVL consider there to be significant potential to further decarbonise TVL’s process with the use of green hydrogen, which BP plans to produce at its proposed Hygreen Facility in Teesside, England.

The MoU proposes a broad-based collaboration between BP and TVL to jointly evaluate TVL’s processes and energy requirements with the aim of decarboninsing these via a switch of fuel from natural gas to green hydrogen.

More than 700 GW of gigafactories are planned for construction across Europe, which will require over 325 000 t of lithium hydroxide and 325 000 tpy of lithium carbonate. Currently, there is zero lithium hydroxide capacity in Europe.

Construction of Train 1 of TVL’s lithium hydroxide processing facility at the Wilton International Chemicals Park in Teesside UK, the first of four trains planned for the site, will produce 24 000 tpy of battery-grade LHM. Once completed, all four trains will produce a total of 96 000 tpy LHM, representing around 15% of Europe’s projected demand by 2030. TVL’s innovative electrochemical process allows the flexibility to divert 20% of the refinery’s production capacity to produce lithium carbonate.

By sourcing low-carbon feedstock and powering an electrochemical process with offshore wind and green hydrogen, TVL is aiming to supply its customers with the world’s lowest-carbon lithium hydroxide.

Louise Kingham, BP’s UK Head of Country and Senior Vice President of Europe, commented: “Our agreement with Tees Valley Lithium has great potential to support its exciting aim of supplying its customers with the world’s lowest-carbon lithium hydroxide. It reflects the strong support we’ve already had from customers, who see HyGreen Teesside as the best way to decarbonise their operations.

The project will help transform local energy use, the local economy and skills development in the community. It will also help us deliver economic growth and the home-grown hydrogen that the UK needs.”

John Walker, CEO of Tees Valley Lithium, commented: “Tees Valley Lithium is delighted to be partnering with BP in this initiative, which will seek to further decarbonise TVL’s lithium hydroxide production at the Wilton International Chemicals Park, in Teesside, UK.

“TVL will source high-value intermediate lithium products with a low embedded carbon footprint from around the world, and will provide customers in the UK and Europe with an independent and sustainable supply of low-carbon battery-grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/12102022/tvl-and-bp-to-trial-green-hydrogen-in-lithium-process/