Feb 7, 2025
Vulcan has commenced the construction of a drill rig at a geothermal drilling location in Landau, Germany.
Vulcan Energy has announced that its internal drilling company, Vercana, has begun preparations to set up the "V20" drilling rig at the Schleidberg site, located near Landau in Germany. This initiative is part of Vulcan's integrated project aimed at producing climate-neutral lithium and renewable energy harnessed from deep geothermal sources, and signifies the commencement of the concrete phase one implementation of the "Lionheart" project on-site.
Drilling operations are tentatively scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2025, pending the successful start-up of the drilling rig. Once the funding for the initial project phase is finalized, Vercana will proceed with the installation of the second electric drilling rig, the "V10," at the designated Trappelberg drilling site.
The construction of the V20 drilling rig follows the successful completion of vital infrastructure tasks, including the development of the Schleidberg drilling site, the establishment of the crew camp, and the construction of the access road. The electric drilling rig boasts a power output of 2,500 hp, a hook load capacity of 550 tons, and is outfitted with a high-pressure pump system capable of up to 7,500 psi.
During the rig construction phase, there will be an increase in transport activity around the drilling site. These transport arrangements are being coordinated closely with the relevant authorities to ensure efficient execution and to minimize any disruption for local residents.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the mining authority approved the special operational plan and transport permits for the V20. Additional permits have also been granted for specific components of the drilling rig. After the rig is built, routine commissioning and testing procedures will follow to guarantee safe and effective operations.
Vulcan is actively advancing the implementation of the first phase of the "Lionheart" project in the Landau area. The dual production of climate-neutral lithium and renewable energy will supply green district heating to local households. Furthermore, in the initial phase, Vulcan aims to produce approximately 24,000 tons of climate-neutral lithium hydroxide monohydrate each year for the automotive sector in Germany and Europe. This quantity is adequate to produce 500,000 electric vehicle batteries annually.
Cris Moreno, the Managing Director and CEO of Vulcan Energy, remarks: "The advancement of the V20 drilling rig represents a significant milestone for our Lionheart project and is a critical step towards creating a sustainable domestic supply chain for lithium. Equipped with two fully electric and state-of-the-art drilling rigs and a skilled team, our in-house drilling company Vercana is well-prepared to safely conduct deep geothermal drilling for renewable energy and lithium production in the Upper Rhine Graben in the coming years. This initiative will facilitate the region's access to renewable base heat and support the transition to electromobility across Germany and Europe."
"We are now entering a new phase in project development, where the safety and quality of our execution are our utmost priorities. To uphold our high standards, we will collaborate closely with all key partners and stakeholders in the area."
Drilling operations are tentatively scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2025, pending the successful start-up of the drilling rig. Once the funding for the initial project phase is finalized, Vercana will proceed with the installation of the second electric drilling rig, the "V10," at the designated Trappelberg drilling site.
The construction of the V20 drilling rig follows the successful completion of vital infrastructure tasks, including the development of the Schleidberg drilling site, the establishment of the crew camp, and the construction of the access road. The electric drilling rig boasts a power output of 2,500 hp, a hook load capacity of 550 tons, and is outfitted with a high-pressure pump system capable of up to 7,500 psi.
During the rig construction phase, there will be an increase in transport activity around the drilling site. These transport arrangements are being coordinated closely with the relevant authorities to ensure efficient execution and to minimize any disruption for local residents.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the mining authority approved the special operational plan and transport permits for the V20. Additional permits have also been granted for specific components of the drilling rig. After the rig is built, routine commissioning and testing procedures will follow to guarantee safe and effective operations.
Vulcan is actively advancing the implementation of the first phase of the "Lionheart" project in the Landau area. The dual production of climate-neutral lithium and renewable energy will supply green district heating to local households. Furthermore, in the initial phase, Vulcan aims to produce approximately 24,000 tons of climate-neutral lithium hydroxide monohydrate each year for the automotive sector in Germany and Europe. This quantity is adequate to produce 500,000 electric vehicle batteries annually.
Cris Moreno, the Managing Director and CEO of Vulcan Energy, remarks: "The advancement of the V20 drilling rig represents a significant milestone for our Lionheart project and is a critical step towards creating a sustainable domestic supply chain for lithium. Equipped with two fully electric and state-of-the-art drilling rigs and a skilled team, our in-house drilling company Vercana is well-prepared to safely conduct deep geothermal drilling for renewable energy and lithium production in the Upper Rhine Graben in the coming years. This initiative will facilitate the region's access to renewable base heat and support the transition to electromobility across Germany and Europe."
"We are now entering a new phase in project development, where the safety and quality of our execution are our utmost priorities. To uphold our high standards, we will collaborate closely with all key partners and stakeholders in the area."