This announcement is the culmination of years of collaboration and process validation with Vulcan, from lab-scale testing, to pilot validation, to an industrial-scale demonstration unit (pictured here), and engineering of the industrial electrolysis plant. NESI’s capabilities are bolstered by our long-standing cell manufacturing partnership with Permascand and decades of development work with the Electrosynthesis Company, resulting in the commercialization of our NORSCAND® Electrolyser and proprietary electrochemical lithium refining processes.
Phase One of the Lionheart project has a targeted capacity of 24,000tpa Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate (LHM) domestic production, enough to manufacture and power around 500,000 electric vehicles annually. NESI’s technology successfully delivered time and time again through multiple validations, allowing for all parties to have full confidence in multiple process guarantees, delivering domestic, sustainable battery-grade lithium to the European continent. Notably, unlike conventional methods that emit 10-30 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of LHM, Vulcan’s overall process emits net zero tonnes of CO2. Construction on the Phase One Lionheart Project is set to being in January 2026, and this agreement reinforces NESI’s role as a critical minerals technology leader and as a globally diversified exporter.
About Vulcan Energy
Vulcan Energy (ASX: VUL, FSE: VUL) is building the world’s first carbon neutral, integrated lithium and renewable energy business to decarbonise battery production. Vulcan’s Lionheart Project, located in the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field bordering Germany and France, is the largest lithium resource in Europe and a tier-one lithium project globally. Harnessing natural heat to produce lithium from sub-surface brines and to power conversion to battery grade material and using its in-house industry-leading technology VULSORB®, Vulcan is building a local, low-cost source of sustainable lithium for European electric vehicle batteries. For more information, please visit https://v-er.eu/
About NESI
NORAM Electrolysis Systems Inc. (NESI) develops and supplies electrochemical processes that enable sustainable and efficient production of high purity chemicals. NESI’s flagship technology, the NORSCAND® electrolyser, is a versatile cell that has been successfully used to produce high-purity lithium hydroxide from lithium sulfate or lithium chloride, to recover acid and caustic from sodium sulfate, and upcycle carbon dioxide into renewable fuel. NESI was founded in 2022 and was formerly the Electrochemical Business Division of NORAM Engineering. It is part of the NORAM Group of companies (NORAM), founded in 1988. Together, NORAM and NESI have deployed proprietary equipment, technology and services to over 50 countries. For more information, please visit https://www.nesi.tech/
About Permascand
Permascand is a technology-driven manufacturer of world-leading electrochemical solutions – based on proprietary catalytic coatings – for clean tech applications. With a customer-centric focus, the company has supplied electrodes and aftermarket services for a variety of industries for more than 50 years. They have one production facility in Sweden and employ approximately 110 people. Their offering spans three core segments: Industrial Solutions, Water Treatment and Electrification & Renewables. Since 2025, Permascand and Magneto Special Anodes merged to create a global leader in the advanced electrochemical sector. For more information, please visit https://permascand.com/
About Electrosynthesis
Electrosynthesis Company, Inc. specializes in the development of electrochemical technologies for energy storage systems, fuel cells, electrodialysis, separations, sensors, synthesis of inorganic and organic chemicals and recycling of waste streams. For more information, please visit https://electrosynthesis.com/
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