TerraLithium, BHE Renewables advance toward commercial-scale lithium extraction

TerraLithium, a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental, and BHE Renewables announced Monday they have advanced their direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology portfolio using geothermal brines in California’s Imperial Valley.  

The companies are collaborating through a joint venture formed in 2024 to commercialize TerraLithium’s technology. 

Since then, they have achieved production of lithium chloride using their DLE process at BHE Renewables’ geothermal facility in Calipatria, California, and manufactured battery-grade lithium carbonate, the companies said.  

They also achieved direct conversion of lithium chloride into lithium hydroxide using a commercial scale electrolyzer at TerraLithium’s R&D facility in Brawley, located in the second-largest geothermal field in the US.

Both components play a key role in producing high energy density lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries, which are central to reliable and secure energy storage.  

The production and conversion milestones, the companies said, further validate that TerraLithium’s DLE technology portfolio can extract and produce responsibly sourced, high-purity lithium compounds that meet commercial processing standards.  

“Developing a secure supply of high-purity lithium will help meet the growing demand for electrification and reliable storage, creating optionality and confidence in our energy future,” TerraLithium president Jeff Alvarez said in a news release. 

 “These milestones demonstrate the capabilities of TerraLithium’s technology portfolio as we build a path from R&D to commercial scale.” 

The joint venture aims to demonstrate that commercial application is both technically feasible and economically viable at scale.  

Following successful demonstration, BHE Renewables said it plans to build, own and operate commercial lithium production facilities in Imperial County.