U.S. Looks to Extract Lithium for Batteries from Geothermal Waste The global demand for the element could grow tenfold by 2030

[RV_]

This kills two birds with one stone, cheaper renewable energy that needs no storage as Geothermal is there all the time. And cheaper Lithium for all the batteries to use that energy.

Excerpt:

"Since the 1970s, California has built power plants that make electricity from geothermal energy—steam from saltwater heated by magma from the molten core of the Earth. It now accounts for 6 percent of California’s power, but it is more expensive to produce than other forms of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power.

But that calculus could change if the wastewater from the process—a whitish, soup-like brine that contains a mixture of dissolved minerals and metals including lithium—can be separated so the lithium could be extracted.

According to a study by the Department of Energy, the Salton Sea in California’s Imperial Valley—one of two large geothermal energy production sites in the state—could produce as much as 600,000 tons of lithium annually.

That is more lithium than the United States currently uses. It could bring in $7.2 billion a year, and that could just be the beginning of expected economic benefits. The global demand for lithium is expected to grow as much as tenfold by 2030.

ut there’s also a downside.

“Although separating out the lithium from the brine that is brought to the surface during the geothermal production cycle sounds simple, it is anything but,” explained Will Stringfellow, a scientist who is leading the lithium research at DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

He and other scientists recently explained in a report that there are also complex chemical, engineering and supply chain issues that need solutions."

Source:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-looks-to-extract-lithium-for-batteries-from-geothermal-waste/

 

[RV_]

Another area of research that may be worth watching for investment opportunities, that may open up a lot of jobs, make geothermal electricity generation cost effective, and supply all our needs for lithium? Maybe maybe not.

Excerpt:

"The global demand for the element could grow tenfold by 2030. November 29, 2021

California and the Biden administration are pushing incentives to make the United States a global leader in a market that’s beginning to boom: the production of lithium, the lightweight metal needed for the batteries of electric vehicles and for the storage of renewable energy from power plants.

At the moment nearly all the lithium used in the United States must be imported from China and other nations. But that trend could shift within two years if an efficient method is found to remove lithium from power plant waste in California.

Since the 1970s, California has built power plants that make electricity from geothermal energy—steam from saltwater heated by magma from the molten core of the Earth. It now accounts for 6 percent of California’s power, but it is more expensive to produce than other forms of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power.

But that calculus could change if the wastewater from the process—a whitish, soup-like brine that contains a mixture of dissolved minerals and metals including lithium—can be separated so the lithium could be extracted.

According to a study by the Department of Energy, the Salton Sea in California’s Imperial Valley—one of two large geothermal energy production sites in the state—could produce as much as 600,000 tons of lithium annually.

That is more lithium than the United States currently uses. It could bring in $7.2 billion a year, and that could just be the beginning of expected economic benefits. The global demand for lithium is expected to grow as much as tenfold by 2030."

Source:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-looks-to-extract-lithium-for-batteries-from-geothermal-waste/?spJobID=2226160646&spMailingID=70941355&spReportId=MjIyNjE2MDY0NgS2&spUserID=NTAzMDg3NDk0MDIzS0&utm_source=pocket_mylist

 

[Kirk W]

Tesla (TSLA) Tanks After News of SEC Probe

 

The company's shares have entered 'bear territory,' according to CNBC

By 

RAKESH SHARMA             Published December 06, 2021

 

Shares for electric car maker Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) saw sharp declines on the morning of Dec. 6 upon news of a probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC investigation was prompted by a whistleblower complaint filed by a former employee alleging improper business practices with regard to informing customers about the fire hazards from its solar panels.

Tesla shares tumbled by more than 3% in pre-market trading to reach a low of $956.92 before recovering. As of this writing, they were changing hands for $982.49, still down by roughly 2% from the day's start.

[RV_]

Duplicate

 

Edited December 9, 2021 by RV_

[RV_]

Back to the topic.

In areas like the San Andreas fault and other areas where there are volcanos geothermal energy generation may be done with the costs offset by the profitability of extracting relatively large amounts of lithium from the geothermal wastewater prduced from generating electricity cheaply and most of all it is renewable indefinitely. No fossil fuel exhaust from the generators.

I wouild like to see more research done to be sure the wastewater after lithium extraction does not become the toxic liability the wstewater is from Fracking for oil and gas wells. No one seems to want to talk about that toxic pollution of groundwater and in some cases surface water.

Barrting that there is news about energy storage and an IPO I will be posting a thread about in a minute.

[RV_]

On 12/7/2021 at 6:12 AM, Kirk W said:

Tesla (TSLA) Tanks After News of SEC Probe

 

The company's shares have entered 'bear territory,' according to CNBC

By 

RAKESH SHARMA             Published December 06, 2021

 

Shares for electric car maker Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) saw sharp declines on the morning of Dec. 6 upon news of a probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC investigation was prompted by a whistleblower complaint filed by a former employee alleging improper business practices with regard to informing customers about the fire hazards from its solar panels.

Tesla shares tumbled by more than 3% in pre-market trading to reach a low of $956.92 before recovering. As of this writing, they were changing hands for $982.49, still down by roughly 2% from the day's start.

Off topic post in this thread Kirk, way off, as the geothermal/lithium investment topic is a future possibility for electrical production and lithium extraction for batteries produced here in the US for all manufacturers. It has nothing to do with the price of eggs, or Tesla shares. <grin> You take some glee posting whenever Tesla dips don't you?

For me I'll be watching these geothermal developments closely.

Sorry Charlie. Today Tesla gained back up to $1057.67 +4.24%

(today Wednesday it was up to $1072.00)

The article you posted was about the suspicion of fire risk with solar panels.

However the last paragraph in your article was this:

"Solar energy constituted a very small portion of Tesla’s overall revenue mix until last year, when the company reported a 30% jump in revenues for the division. According to research firm Wood Mackenzie, Tesla was the second-biggest solar panel installer in the United States last year and had a 7.6% share of the market in the final quarter of last year.6 In February 2020, Alex Potter, analyst with Piper Sandler, estimated that Tesla's solar and battery business could reach $80 billion in revenue by the 2030s."