We are proud to share a major milestone in the journey of geothermal lithium in the United Kingdom.
For this project in Cornwall, we successfully designed, built, and commissioned a 5 m³/h CCIX demo plant marking the first geothermal lithium project in the UK.
Our team delivered the full scope: from engineering and platform construction to resin vessels, CCIX installation, pumps, and complete instrumentation.
Engineering
The project started with a strong engineering phase, focused on precision and attention to detail.
The complete installation was engineered in-house, including the platform, resin vessels, tanks, pumps, instrumentation panels, and piping. From the beginning, the design was optimized for more than 90% prefabrication, ensuring efficient assembly and high-quality control.
Construction & Pre-fabrication
Following engineering, the project moved into construction and pre-fabrication.
The complete platform was fabricated by our trusted partner GP Manufacturing
Website: https://gp-manufacturing.be/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gp-manufacturing/posts/?feedView=all
In parallel, all instrumentation panels, piping, and polypropylene holding tanks were custom manufactured according to the project requirements.
The full installation was then pre-installed and pre-fabricated in our workshop in Belgium, allowing us to assemble and test the system before shipment.
On-site Erection & Commissioning
After successful pre-assembly, the installation was dismantled and shipped to the United Kingdom.
On site, our construction team reassembled the complete installation using the prefabricated components. Final piping connections were made on site to perfectly match the actual conditions.
At the center of the installation, our ION-IX multiport valve was implemented — forming the core of the CCIX system.
Once all mechanical works were completed, commissioning was initiated. The installation successfully passed the static pressure test, marking an important milestone towards start-up.
Start-up
Following commissioning and resin rinsing, the installation was successfully started up together with the upstream and downstream processes.
The system operated with hot geothermal brine as input and produced lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) as output.
From Workshop to Operation
What makes this project truly special is how it came to life:
- All equipment was procured and delivered to our warehouse in Belgium
- The full installation was assembled and thoroughly tested at our facilities
- After successful testing, the plant was carefully dismantled and shipped to site
- Our construction team rebuilt the installation on-site
- Followed by commissioning and a successful Mechanical Completion
A Step Forward in Geothermal Lithium
We have now reached an exciting next phase:
- Start-up with geothermal brine feed
- First lithium carbonate samples successfully produced
- Samples sent to the laboratory for evaluation and further process optimization
Looking Ahead
We are proud to contribute to this pioneering project and look forward to being part of the future commercial-scale development that will follow.
This project represents an important step forward in enabling sustainable, local lithium production in Europe.
A big thank you to all teams involved: engineering, construction, commissioning, and partners for making this project a success.
