Germany’s Lithium Reserves Could Meet Domestic Demand for Decades

Germany’s subsoil contains up to 26.51 million metric tons of lithium, according to findings from the Li+Fluid project, a research initiative examining lithium-rich fluids in the North German Plain and Thuringian Basin.

Researchers detected lithium concentrations of up to 66 mg/l in fluids, particularly in water sourced from Rotliegend sandstones, the Zechstein carbonate, and the Bunter sandstone. The region's extensive history of natural gas extraction provides numerous active and former boreholes, enabling relatively easy access to deep underground layers.

The study estimates that lithium dissolved in deep water could meet Germany’s needs for several decades. The German Raw Materials Agency forecasts the country’s lithium demand at up to 170,000 metric tons annually by 2030.

To enhance the economic viability of lithium extraction, researchers explored integrating lithium recovery with geothermal energy production. The process would involve separating lithium from extracted hot deep water, which could then be used for district heating, industrial production, or electricity generation before being reinjected underground.

One example cited is in Münster, Lower Saxony, where the municipal utility is upgrading a former natural gas well. The energy provider aims to supply district heating to 4,000 households by 2026 while extracting up to 500 metric tons of lithium annually from the same facility.