German-Canadian firm Rock Tech Lithium has entered a strategic partnership with the independent energy company Enertrag SE for energy supply to its planned lithium hydroxide converter in Guben, Germany.
The signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) said that at least 50% of electricity demand for the Guben facility will be met by wind and photovoltaic plants operated by Enertrag starting in 2030. Rock Tech said indirect Scope 2 carbon dioxide emissions for the converter can be reduced by approximately 50% by using renewable energy.
The goal of the agreement is to ensure planning security for operating costs with a sustainable and competitive energy supply. The Guben converter project is seen as a strategic initiative under the European Commission’s Critical Raw Materials Act.
The project will be a template for building a resilient supply chain for critical minerals in Canada.
Enertrag said it will supply its electricity from plants in the neighbouring Polish municipality of Gubin. It said it intends to provide at least 70GWh of renewable electricity per year under a future power purchase agreement (PPA) to the Guben project.
Mirco Wojnarowicz, CEO, Rock Tech Lithium, said, “With the planned direct supply of our converter with renewable energy, we are setting an important milestone for the sustainable and competitive production of lithium hydroxide in Europe. The partnership with Enertrag is an important example of how industry and energy producers can work together in a practical way to decarbonise the value chain. This not only creates planning security for our project but also contributes to achieving European climate targets.”
Dr. Gunar Hering, CEO, Enertrag, adds, “The project with Rock Tech is a milestone for the cross-border energy transition and highlights the role of the Lausitz-area in Brandenburg as the future region for sustainable industry. Together, we are creating planning security, strengthening the regional value proposition, and making a true contribution to the decarbonisation of the European economy.”
Image: The signing of the Guben project MoU by (L-R) Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson, Mirco Wojnarowicz, Rock Tech Lithium CEO, Dr. Gunar Hering, Enertrag CEO, and Katharina Reiche, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. Credit: Rock Tech Lithium.
