NORAM Electrolysis Systems Inc. (NESI), a Vancouver-based clean technology company specializing in industrial electrochemical processing, has reached a major commercialization milestone as construction begins on Vulcan Energy Resources’ Central Lithium Plant in Frankfurt, Germany.
Located at the Infraserv Industrial Park Höchst, the facility forms a key part of Vulcan Energy’s Lionheart Project, one of Europe’s most advanced integrated lithium and renewable energy developments. The project aims to strengthen Europe’s domestic battery materials supply chain while reducing dependence on imported lithium resources.
NESI’s NORSCAND® Technology to Power Lithium Refining
Under the project, Vulcan Energy will deploy NESI’s proprietary NORSCAND® electrolysis technology to convert lithium chloride into battery-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM), a critical raw material used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The Central Lithium Plant is designed to produce 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate annually, enough to support the manufacturing of nearly 500,000 electric vehicle batteries every year. By integrating advanced electrochemical refining with renewable energy-powered lithium extraction, the project aims to establish a more sustainable and lower-carbon battery materials ecosystem in Europe.
Germany Strengthens Domestic Lithium Supply Chain
The ceremony attracted several high-profile government and industry leaders, including Boris Rhein, Minister-President of the State of Hesse, and Mike Josef, Lord Mayor of Frankfurt am Main. Their participation highlighted the strategic importance of domestic lithium production for Germany’s clean energy and electric mobility ambitions. As Europe accelerates its transition toward electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, projects such as Lionheart are becoming essential for securing regional access to critical battery materials.
Major Commercial Milestone for NESI
For NESI, the Lionheart Project represents one of the company’s most significant commercial-scale deployments in the global battery materials sector. The Central Lithium Plant will act as the downstream processing hub for Vulcan’s integrated renewable energy and lithium extraction operations.
The project combines geothermal lithium extraction with electrolysis-based refining technology to produce high-purity battery materials with lower environmental impact. Jeremy Moulson, President and CEO of NESI, said the groundbreaking marks a major validation of the company’s electrochemical technology platform for cleaner battery materials processing. He added that integrating NORSCAND® technology into the Lionheart Project positions NESI at the center of Europe’s rapidly expanding lithium and battery materials industry.
Vulcan Energy Targets Commercial Production by 2028
Vulcan Energy confirmed that major construction work has officially commenced following a positive Final Investment Decision and the successful securing of a €2.2 billion funding package in December 2025. The company is targeting commercial production during the second half of 2028. According to Vulcan Energy Managing Director and CEO Cris Moreno, the Central Lithium Plant represents a defining step toward building the world’s first integrated sustainable lithium and renewable energy business. He noted that the collaboration with NESI will help ensure high-purity lithium production while maintaining low environmental impact standards essential for the future battery value chain.
Supporting Low-Carbon Battery Materials Production
As per the press release, NESI’s participation in the Lionheart Project further strengthens its position as a global technology provider for lower-carbon critical minerals processing and sustainable battery materials production.
With demand for lithium-ion batteries continuing to surge worldwide, the partnership between NESI and Vulcan Energy highlights the growing importance of innovative electrochemical technologies in enabling cleaner and more localized battery supply chains.
