• As soon as the well site is set up, the drilling rig is erected and the drill pipe is ready, the drilling begins.
• The standpipe itself is only 30 to 40 metres deep. Smaller pipes, which are inserted into each other, follow, being sealed against each other to protect the groundwater. The wells are then drilled vertically to a depth of around 1,000 metres before they are deflected and lead at an angle into the permeable reservoir.
• During the drilling process, various experts are deployed to ensure that the drilling is carried out safely and to monitor the individual work steps. Once the desired end point of the well has been reached, several tests are carried out. Upon successful completion, the system is prepared for commissioning.

• The drilling site is built completely watertight to protect the surrounding area, especially the groundwater, from contamination.
• The site will be equipped with its own drainage system, which is independent of the public sewerage system. As in all commercial operations, wastewater is collected, analysed at regular intervals, and disposed professionally if necessary.

• A risk to the groundwater from geothermal energy can be ruled out.
• Although layers containing drinking water are drilled through, the drilling fluid seals all water-bearing layers.
• Several pipes are then cemented in place, which are interlocked and sealed with cement to provide multiple protection for the drinking water. The cemented gaps are also monitored for leaks using measuring devices.
• Measuring gauges are installed outside the drilling site in case, contrary to expectations, a change in the groundwater composition is registered.

• By regularly monitoring various parameters in the drilling, defects can be recognised at an early stage.
• In addition, a network of measuring points in the near-surface aquifer can help to ensure that any seepage of brine into near-surface aquifers can be detected at an early stage and suitable countermeasures can be initiated.
• Chemically analysing the brine prior to commissioning also enables a detailed risk assessment to be carried out, allowing the monitoring concept to be adapted accordingly.

• Brine in the Upper Rhine Valley contains dissolved radioactive elements due to the bedrock deep underground. However, measurements in geothermal plants have shown that radioactivity is practically negligible.
• Radioactive levels in brine are so low that a protective distance of a few centimetres from the pipes carrying brine is sufficient to prevent exposure on the plant site.
• The system components are labelled on the floor. Radioactivity can only accumulate in the heat exchangers, for example, if precipitation occurs.
• Over time, it has been possible to reduce the amount of these deposits further and further. The residues are removed during the annual inspection in compliance with all prescribed safety precautions to protect employees and are disposed of in accordance with an authorised disposal route.

• The drilling does not create cavities that could collapse and cause subsidence on the surface.
• Brine is extracted from fissures and pores in the sandstone, where the diameter of the drilling decreases with increasing drilling depth.
• In contrast to mining and oil production, utilising deep geothermal energy does not involve permanent extraction of ground resources because the brine is channelled back into the same reservoir after the heat has been taken out.

• In Germany, fracking is only permitted for research purposes under strict conditions and is not used by Vulcan.
• The brine reservoirs on the Upper Rhine are located in particularly permeable rock layers (shell limestone and coloured sandstone), making fracking, which is mainly used to tap impermeable rock layers, unnecessary.

• Seismicity is associated with any utilisation of the subsurface (e.g. mining, drinking water extraction, hydrocarbon extraction). The aim is to keep seismicity below the perception threshold and avoid even the smallest damage.
• To achieve this, all activities during project development and operation are monitored using highly sensitive vibration measurements and operations are adjusted accordingly.
• Thanks to 3D seismic technology, the subsurface can be investigated more precisely in advance than was the case with previous projects. This improved knowledge makes it possible to reduce seismicity.
• Interesting to know: In the incident in Staufen, where cracks occurred, no deep geothermal energy was used. It was a case of poorly executed drilling measures for geothermal probes at a maximum drilling depth of just 140 metres. (Staufen 2020: Link).

• The controlled construction and operation of a geothermal system will almost certainly prevent major damage.
• If, contrary to expectations, damage should occur, probably only of a minor nature, this will be dealt with by Vulcan in an uncomplicated manner.
• The company has drawn up a detailed liability concept. This provides for a fund made available by Vulcan to settle minor claims via an independent ombudsman. Insurance may come into play in the unlikely event of major or very numerous incidents. Liability insurance usually only covers the current value.
• Vulcan’s concept envisages that a fund provided by Vulcan will handle the smallest claims via an independent ombudsman. Insurance may come into play in the unlikely event of major or very numerous incidents. In the past, the question of current value or replacement value insurance has been an issue. Liability insurance usually only covers current value.
• If, contrary to expectations, all insurance policies fail, for whatever reason, the Mining Damage Compensation Fund steps in, in which all mining companies, including Vulcan, are jointly and severally involved. However, this insurance has never needed to be utilised since it was introduced in the 1970s.

• During a 3D seismic survey, so-called vibro-trucks drive over roads and paths in the exploration area.
• The trucks lower a plate to the ground and cause it to vibrate.
  These vibrations are recorded by earth microphones previously distributed in the region and are roughly comparable to the vibrations of a tram or a heavy lorry.
• Measuring points on sensitive infrastructure (e.g. bridges or pipelines) are excluded from the measurement and the measurement time in a municipality is limited.
• Incidentally, seismology is the technique in which seismic waves are used to obtain information about the subsurface, while seismicity describes the observable earthquake activity in a region.

• The operation of a geothermal power plant can lead to induced seismicity, which is why the mining authorities require seismic monitoring for geothermal projects.
• This involves continuously measuring and analysing ground vibration velocities at various points around the power plant. The aim of the monitoring is to keep vibrations below the perception threshold, but in any case below the damage limit.

• Vulcan Energy Resources’ mission is to become Europe`s leading Zero Carbon Lithium™ business and enabling energy security through geothermal energy.
• Our Zero Carbon Lithium™ Project adapts existing, commercially proven technology to produce battery-quality lithium from naturally heated subsurface brine in the Upper Rhine Valley, to deliver a local source of sustainable lithium for the European battery industry, with a co-product of renewable energy to provide baseload renewable energy for local communities.
• The company has been listed on the Australian Stock Exchange since 2018 and additionally on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since the beginning of 2022.
• Vulcan was founded in 2018 by Dr Francis Wedin and Dr Horst Kreuter to counteract existing dependencies on lithium imports and establish carbon neutral lithium production in Europe.

• Our goal: We will empower a net zero carbon future.
• Our mission: Becoming Europe’s leading ZERO CARBON LITHIUM™ business and enabling energy security through geothermal energy.

Learn more 

• The Vulcan Group covers the entire geothermal value chain and the downstream submarkets. With the parent holding company Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd. in Australia and the German subsidiary Vulcan Energie Ressourcen GmbH, Vulcan Group manages the company’s activities.
• The Vulcan Group also includes other German companies such as Vulcan Energy Subsurface Solutions GmbH (VESS), Vercana GmbH, Vulcan Energy Engineering GmbH (VEE) and Natürlich Insheim GmbH. In January 2023, Comeback Personaldienstleistungen GmbH was acquired, giving Vulcan access to qualified personnel from the drilling industry.

Learn more  

• Vulcan employs leading international experts in the field of geothermal energy and lithium production.
• The sectors of geothermal energy and power plant/heating and cooling systems is covered by two subsidiaries, Vulcan Energy Subsurface Solutions GmbH and Vulcan Energy Engineering GmbH, which have over 15 years of experience. Vulcan has been producing green electricity at the geothermal power plant in Insheim since January 2022.

• Vulcan’s Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field (URVBF), consisting of 16 licences for a total area of 1,790 km2, represents Europe’s largest lithium resource (according to public, JORC-compliant data), with 27.7Mt contained LCE from 10 of its 16 German licences.
• The Upper Rhine Valley is a large, approximately 300 km long graben system with consistent geothermal lithium reservoirs in sedimentary rock.
• The Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field is a well-known production area with more than 1,000 oil and gas wells and 24 deep geothermal wells already drilled on site.

Learn more

The Upper Rhine Valley is the largest lithium resource in Europe.

The Upper Rhine Valley also offers:

• a high lithium concentration in the brine (average 175 mg/l).
• high brine temperatures, which enable efficient energy production.
• high possible extraction rates due to good rock permeability.
• a comparatively low proportion of certain substances that could hinder lithium extraction.
• a high salt content, which drives the sorption process.
• the proximity to the planned battery factories in Europe.

• Vulcan has entered its project level debt and equity financing program at the end of 2023.

• For lithium: Umicore, LG Energy Solution, Stellantis, Volkswagen, Renault Group.
• For heating: MVV Energie Mannheim.

• Vulcan is aiming for a phased growth approach, Phase One starting from core of field where Vulcan already owns production/re-injection wells in operation.
• Phase One is focused on Vulcan’s proven, brine-producing Lionheart (LIO) development area in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Phase One focuses on Proved Reserves of 318kt LCE for years 0-15 of production, then Probable Reserves of 252kt LCE for years 16-30.
• Integrated renewable energy and lithium battery chemicals operation, close to lithium offtake customers and renewable heat customers.

Vulcan aims to start commercial scale lithium production in the third quarter of 2026.