A report released by the Department of Energy (DOE) on November 28, 2023, found that given expected technology advances, California’s Salton Sea region could produce more than 3,400 kilotons of lithium, enough to support over 375 million batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).[1] The mineral is critical for reaching the Biden administration’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 as it is key in the production of batteries for storage and EVs. Currently, the U.S. relies primarily on imported lithium. However, the DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) found that with technology advancements, the vast supply of lithium in the Salton Sea could be obtained via direct lithium extraction (DLE) from geothermal brines, a byproduct of geothermal electricity generation that often has high concentrations of minerals. The Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area (KGRA) has about 400 MW of installed geothermal capacity, and up to 2,950 MW is possible in the region. According to a report from the California Energy Commission, Salton Sea KGRA is believed to have the highest concentration of lithium contained in geothermal brines in the world.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/us-department-energy-analysis-confirms-californias-salton-sea-region-be-rich-domestic#:~:text=Conducted%20by%20DOE's%20Lawrence%20Berkeley,the%20total%20number%20of%20vehicles

On November 13, 2023, ExxonMobil announced plans to become a leading producer of lithium.[1] The company’s first phase of North American lithium production has begun in southwest Arkansas. ExxonMobil acquired the rights to 120,000 gross acres of the Smackover formation in southern Arkansas – considered one of the most prolific lithium resources of its type in North America—in early 2023. ExxonMobil said it “is working with local and state officials to enable the successful scale-up of Arkansas’ emerging lithium industry.” ExxonMobil will use conventional oil and gas drilling methods to access lithium-rich saltwater from reservoirs about 10,000 feet underground, then utilize direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology to separate lithium from the saltwater. The lithium will be converted onsite to battery-grade material, while the remaining saltwater will be re-injected into the underground reservoirs. The process produces lower carbon emissions than hard rock mining and requires less land.

Lithium is essential to the production of lithium-ion batteries. Demand for lithium is expected to quadruple by 2030, but nearly all lithium is currently produced outside North America. The first production target for the project is set for 2027, and the company is evaluating growth opportunities globally. By 2030, ExxonMobil aims to be producing enough lithium to supply the manufacturing needs of over a million electric vehicles (EVs) per year.

[1] https://corporate.exxonmobil.com/news/news-releases/2023/1113_exxonmobil-drilling-first-lithium-well-in-arkansas