South West Freight Set For Resurgence
The title of this article is the same as that of a feature article in the November Edition of Modern Railways.
One of the topics, the article discusses is lithium mining in Cornwall and its transport from the South West.
I started by asking, Google AI, where lithium is mined in Europe, and received this answer.
Portugal is the only country in the EU currently mining lithium, with the Barroso project being the main focus of future production. However, there are multiple other European countries with significant lithium deposits that are expected to begin mining in the near future, including the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, and Serbia.
So Cornish lithium will be one of several sources, but surely ideal for UK batteries.
The Modern Railways article has two paragraphs, which describe lithium mining in Cornwall.
But it’s the potential for lithium that may be the most exciting development for rail freight in the region. Cornish Lithium plans to extract it from an open pit at Trelavour, near St Austell, and it is adamant that rail will be vital for its plans to come to fruition. Trelavour is next to the Parkandillack china clay processing plant, and Cornish Lithium plans to use this to bring in essential materials. The volumes are significant – an estimated 180,000 tonnes per year of input are anticipated, most if not all brought in by rail, and the site’s output of around 8,000 tonnes per year could also go by rail. It is hoped the first traffic could run to the site before the end of Control Period 7 in March 2029 in a project that could run for 20 years.
It isn’t just Cornish Lithium seeking to extract this ‘white gold’ from Cornwall. Imerys British Lithium is extracting lithium and producing lithium carbonate, initially at a pilot site in Roche – with the aim of producing around 21,000 tonnes of the material every year for 30 years.
In total the two sites will produce 790,000 tonnes of lithium ores over thirty years, which when averaged is about 72 tonnes per day.
I then asked Google AI, where the lithium will be processed and refined and received this answer.
Lithium from Cornwall will be processed and refined at demonstration and full-scale plants located within the county. Specifically, Cornish Lithium has a demonstration plant in St Dennis and plans to build a full-scale plant there to produce refined lithium hydroxide. Similarly, the British Lithium project, a joint venture with Imerys, is developing a pilot plant and full-scale processing facility in the St Austell area to produce lithium carbonate from granite, says BBC News.
That seems a very comprehensive answer from a computer!
This Google Map shows the area of Cornwall between St. Dennis and St. Austell.
Note.
- St. Austell is in the South-East corner of the map.
- St. Dennis is in the North-West corner of the map.
- Trelavour appears to be just South of St. Dennis.
- In the middle of the map, are the china clay workings.
Although rail is mentioned, it looks like new tracks will have to be laid.
The Modern Railways article says this about using rail.
Should these plans come to fruition, it seems likely rail will play a part in the supply chain. It is not much of an exaggeration to suggest that Cornwall’s lithium deposits offer a generational opportunity for the Duchy, and by extension, for rail freight.
But, if I’m right about the daily amount being around 72 tonnes, then not many trains will be needed.
I have a few further thoughts.
How Much Will The Lithium Be Worth?
I asked Google AI, what is a tonne of lithium metal worth and got this answer.
A tonne of battery-grade lithium metal is worth approximately $77,962 to $80,398 USD, with an average of about $79,180 USD. The price fluctuates significantly based on market conditions, and the value can differ for industrial-grade lithium metal or other lithium compounds like carbonate or hydroxide.
Assuming a price of $80,000, then a day’s production is worth $5,760,000 and a year’s production is worth about $2 billion.
This could be a massive Magic Money Mine for Rachel from Accounts.
Will The Royal Albert Bridge Cope With The Extra Trains?
The Modern Railways article says this.
While there is excitement about the potential from Cornwall’s new and revived minerals industries, there are caveats. One is the train weight limit on the Royal Albert Bridge, Saltash.
Note.
- A five-car Class 802 train weighs 243 tonnes and I’ve seen pairs in Cornwall.
- Other trains may be heavier, but if the lithium refining is done in Cornwall, the lithium trains won’t be too heavy.
As lithium is the lightest metal, is it sensible to perform the processing and refining in Cornwall and leave the unwanted rocks in the Duchy?
Lithium In A California Lake Could Help U.S. Gain Energy Autonomy
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on NBC News.
This is the introductory paragraph.
The ingredient crucial to electric car batteries is found in the brine of the Salton Sea, a once-busy recreation spot that fell into decay because of toxic runoff.
So where is the Salton Sea?
This Google Map shows the Salton Sea in the middle of the Californian desert.
It looks like a rather bleak hot place to me.
But if we can extract lithium out of little Cornwall, surely the Yanks can extract it from a dying lake.
Plane Surveying Cornwall For Minerals
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
These are the first two paragraphs.
A low-flying 1940s plane doing survey work will be a common sight over mid and west Cornwall during the next two to three weeks.
The geological mapping plane is hoping to identify where lithium and other minerals may be located underground.
But the most interesting thing about the project is the aircraft that does the surveying, which is a 1943 Douglas DC3.
It is being flown by Bell Geospace and the aircraft has been upgraded into a Basler BT-67, with turboprop engines, an improved airframe and modern avionics.
Having flown aircraft at the sort of height mentioned by the BBC, I’d love to get a lift on one of their survey flights.
Record Levels Of Lithium In Geothermal Water At United Downs Project
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Think Geoenergy.
This paragraph explains it all.
Geothermal Engineering Ltd (GEL), the company behind the UK’s first deep geothermal electricity power plant, is today announcing record levels of lithium in its geothermal waters. Recent, third party tests have revealed that there are more than 250 milligrams per litre (‘mg/L’) in the fluid which is the highest concentration ever discovered in geothermal fluids anywhere in the world.
The article also says.
- The magnesium levels are low, which eases processing.
- Up to four thousand tonnes of lithium could be produced per year locally.
The article is certainly worth a read.
The Complex Web At Sunderland
This article on the BBC is entitled Nissan Announces Major UK Electric Car Expansion.
This is the first few paragraphs.
Nissan has announced a major expansion of electric vehicle production at its car plant in Sunderland which will create 1,650 new jobs.
The Japanese carmaker will build its new-generation all-electric model at the site as part of a £1bn investment that will also support thousands of jobs in the supply chain.
And Nissan’s partner, Envision AESC, will build an electric battery plant.
I think there is more to this than meets the eye!
We wait several years for a battery gigafactory to come along and then two come along in a month or two; Blyth and Sunderland. On television today, a BBC reporter talked of eight possible battery gigafactories in the UK.
Lithium Supply
Where do they all think the lithium will come from, as some say there’s a world-wide shortage?
The only explanation, is that the UK government and the gigafactory owners have bought into a secure source of lithium, that is convenient for or easily transported to the North-East.
I am very suspicious that Cornish Lithium or British Lithium have found something bigger than anybody expected.
The numbers don’t add up otherwise!
Lithium Refining
On the other hand, it appears that lithium needs a lot of electricity to extract the metal from the ores, as electrolysis is used.
But with all the windpower being developed off the North-East Coast, there could be more than enough to refine the lithium.
Remember too, that lithium has applications in defence and aerospace applications, when alloyed with magnesium and aluminium.
So could a substantial lithium refining capability be built in the North-East?
The Chinese View
In The Times, Lei Zhang, who is chief executive of Envision also said he liked our masses of offshore wind power, so perhaps the Chinese want to produce green batteries in Sunderland after refining the lithium in the North-East?
Conclusion
We probably need battery-electric cars built from green steel, fitted with green batteries and charged with green electricity.
Is the Gigawatts of offshore wind electricity in the North-East luring the battery and car makes to the area.
Could we also see green steel manufacturing on Teesside?
Faraday Battery Challenge Funded Project “Li4UK” Announces The First Domestic Production Of Lithium Carbonate From UK Sources
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Li4UK.
This is the introductory paragraph.
Li4UK (Securing a Domestic Lithium Supply Chain for the UK), the Faraday Battery Challenge-funded project under the patronage of UKRI (UK Research and Innovation), is pleased to announce that the project Consortium, comprising Wardell Armstrong International Limited (WAI), The Natural History Museum (NHM) and Cornish Lithium Ltd (CLL), has successfully produced lithium carbonate from two UK sources – one from Cornish Lithium’s Trelavour project site in Cornwall and another from Scotland. High purity lithium carbonate is a raw material for lithium-ion battery cells, such as those used in electric vehicles.
When I first heard of this project, I wrote How To Go Mining In A Museum and felt that this project deserved to succeed, given the diligence of the founder.
You never know what you will find in the dusty vaults of a museum.
Government Funding For Lithium Recovery From Geothermal At United Downs Project
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Think Geoenergy.
This is the sub heading.
A demonstration project to produce Lithium from geothermal brines at the United Downs Deep Geothermal Project in Cornwall, UK has received government funding.
This is certainly, an idea to watch.
The company behind the project is Cornish Lithium, that I wrote about in How To Go Mining In A Museum.
How To Go Mining In A Museum
This article on Active Investors is entitled Government Backing Lined Up For Cornish Lithium As It Partners With Wardell Armstrong And The Natural History Museum To Advance UK Battery Capabilities.
These are the first few paragraphs.
Cornish Lithium is now moving in some pretty august circles in its quest to put the UK on the lithium map.
Lithium is essential in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles.
“It’s been a huge voyage of discovery,” says Jeremy Wrathall.
“An absolutely amazing journey.”
In the past year the company he created, Cornish Lithium, has been transforming rapidly from a concept conjured up from the pages of old documents hidden in half-forgotten library vaults into a well-funded exploration vehicle with 10 geologists and some serious-minded partners providing additional funding and know-how.
The article goes on to give the full story of lithium in Cornwall and how by looking at old documents in the museum’s archives, Jeremy Wrathall may have found where to mine for the valuable mineral.
Now his company; Cornish Lithium, who are partnered with Wardell Armstrong, who describe themselves on their web site as.
An Engineering, Environmental and Mining consultancy with over 180 years of international service and experience.
And the Natural History Museum, who need no introduction.
They have been backed by £500,000 from the Government’s Faraday Battery Challenge fund.
It is a must-read tale, that I hope, very much has a successful conclusion.
The Anonymous Widower 