“Infinity and thyssenkrupp BU Mining are bringing world-leading technologies to San José in alignment to Extremadura’s ambitions to produce green hydrogen from their vast renewable energy projects, and progress sustainable industrialisation in the region,” says Infinity Lithium CEO.
Infinity Lithium Corporation Ltd (ASX:INF) and subsidiary Infinity GreenTech Pty Ltd have partnered with thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions AG Business Unit Mining (tk BU Mining) to assess the potential to use green hydrogen power in the lithium chemical conversion process.
The companies have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that highlights the intention to apply technological advancements for green hydrogen energy to the pyrometallurgical equipment used in lithium chemical conversion processing.
Infinity Lithium says the advancements have the potential to be integrated into both the San José Lithium Project and the Infinity GreenTech novel lithium hydrometallurgical conversion processes.
“Forefront of global leading application”
Infinity Lithium CEO and managing director Ryan Parkin noted: “The ability to be at the forefront of this global leading application of green hydrogen has wide-ranging implication for the company and the industry.
“Infinity and thyssenkrupp BU Mining are bringing world-leading technologies to San José in alignment to Extremadura’s ambitions to produce green hydrogen from their vast renewable energy projects, and progress sustainable industrialisation in the region.”
The test-work for this marrying of technology with an integrated lithium project is likely a global first and will involve pilot-scale activities using the new tk BU Mining Hydrogen Burner installation in Germany to assess San José feedstock and the use of green hydrogen to power a rotary kiln.
“Environmentally responsible mining”
thyssenkrupp BU Mining CEO Jan Lüder said: “Global demand for raw materials is rising all the time, whilst there is consciousness about the finite nature of resources and the need to protect the environment.
“As one of the world’s leading engineering and equipment supply companies for the mining industry, we are aware of our customers’ needs to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations.
“Therefore, thyssenkrupp Mining technologies has been developing projects to improve our equipment and services in order to help our customers achieve their goal of sustainable and environmentally responsible mining.
“From digitalisation and optimisation solutions, mining operations integration studies and, of course, low-CO2 pyro-processing solutions.
“Among other developments, our pilot hydrogen/natural gas combustion facility allows us to evaluate with our customers the potential of using Green H2 in the mining industry as an alternative to fossil fuels with special attention to the final product quality.
“Our collaboration with Infinity Lithium is a great step in this direction and we are proud to support the development of a crucial project for Extremadura, Spain and Europe.”
Green hydrogen for San José
Infinity Lithium believes the San José Project has the potential to use green hydrogen as its energy source to power the rotary kiln that will be required under the sulphate roast stage of the process flowsheet.
tk BU Mining will assess varying compositions of natural gas and green hydrogen for use at San José, while Infinity will assess the potential use of natural gas from the project’s adjacent pipeline infrastructure and the impact of blended gas and hydrogen which is already in use in pipelines globally.
Infinity Lithium and tk BU Mining will also assess the potential use of hydrogen from alternative sources which can include a localised source of green hydrogen or the development of specific infrastructure on site.
Infinity GreenTech
Infinity has already lodged provision patent applications for the novel lithium hydrometallurgical conversion processes, and the collaboration with tk BU Mining will be incorporated for the assessment of the pyrometallurgical applications under these novel technologies.
The provisionally protected patent has the potential for application to lithium-bearing materials and more widely for other battery material refining processes.
tk BU Mining Hydrogen Burner Pilot plant
tk BU Mining Technologies is one of the few full-line suppliers globally, reliably provides tailored, cost-efficient and responsible solutions for mining, processing and handling raw materials and is committed to a sustainable mining industry through continuous improvement of products to reduce the carbon footprint of projects.
The pyro-processing product portfolio includes a wide installed base including rotary kilns, Multiple Hearth Furnaces (‘MHF’) and Gas Suspension Calciners that focus on the CO2 emission profile.
In this context, tk’s new Hydrogen burner installation will facilitate test works to assess the potential of hydrogen as substitution fuel in rotary kilns, MHF and other pyro processing technologies.
About Infinity Lithium
Infinity Lithium Corporation is developing its 75%-owned San José Lithium Project in Spain.
The San Jose deposit is a highly advanced, previously mined brownfield development opportunity representing the European Union’s second-largest lithium deposit.
The project would provide an essential component in the EU’s development of a vertically integrated lithium-ion battery supply chain.
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