Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) said it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Fuji Electric Corp. of America (FEA) on Monday for the delivery of geothermal power facilities.
The equipment, procurement and construction contracts total $1.4 billion at CTR’s Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power Project in Imperial County, California.
A gigafactory is planned for the site by start-up Statevolt.
The contracts comprise a 55MW Stage 1 power facility and five more 55MW power facilities or facility configurations totalling 330MW over five years.
CTR expects to produce 150,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually at the plant. It will use the geothermal brine and some renewable power generated from these facilities.
CTR said Fuji Electric made its first geothermal turbine delivery in Japan in 1960 and now established itself as the world’s leading manufacturer of geothermal power generation equipment.
The Hell’s Kitchen projects will utilise steam turbine generators and transformers manufactured by Fuji Electric.
CTR anticipates the completion of its Stage 1 geothermal operation and the commencement of lithium hydroxide production in late 2024. At total production capacity, it expects to deliver 1,100MW of renewable power and over 300,000 tonnes of lithium products annually.
Image (left to right): Shiro Kondo, President and COO, Fuji Electric Co.; Muneo Sato, President and CEO, Fuji Electric Corp. of America; Rod Colwell, CEO, Controlled Thermal Resources; California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis.