For the first time, France is trying to turn its own underground resources into a strategic lithium supply, pairing deep geothermal drilling with the extraction of a metal that sits at the heart of the electric vehicle boom.
France starts drilling for its own lithium
Since 24 November 2025, a major geothermal drilling project has been running in Schwabwiller, a small village in northern Alsace, near Betschdorf. The operation is led by Lithium de France, a subsidiary of Arverne Group, and marks the first concrete attempt to produce so‑called “geothermal lithium” on French soil.
The project pursues two parallel goals. First, it aims to capture deep underground heat and use it as a stable, local source of low‑carbon energy. Second, it tries to extract lithium from hot brines circulating several kilometres below ground, reducing Europe’s dependence on imported battery metals.
French engineers hope to turn a single drilling platform into both a clean heating plant and a domestic lithium source for electric car batteries.
This phase follows several years of preparation: 3D seismic surveys, thermal gradient measurements, public consultations and environmental assessments. The site has been levelled, connected to utilities and covered with concrete pads to support the massive drilling rig now operating day and night.
From permit to production: a rapid timeline
How the Alsace project was set in motion
The story began in 2022, when Lithium de France secured two separate permits in northern Alsace: one for geothermal energy, another for geothermal lithium extraction. Exploration work between 2022 and 2023 confirmed that the area, part of the Upper Rhine Graben, hosts deep, hot aquifers enriched with dissolved minerals, including lithium.
An environmental permit was granted in May 2025, following a public inquiry completed at the end of 2024. Preparatory construction kicked off in June 2025. Installation of the drilling rig in November signalled the start of a crucial test phase.
The rig is designed to drill two wells, forming what engineers call a “geothermal doublet”. One well will bring hot brine to the surface; the other will return cooled fluid underground after the heat and, potentially, lithium have been extracted.
What the drilling aims to prove
This first campaign is less about instant production and more about checking whether the underground resource matches expectations. Engineers plan to drill to around 2,400 metres, where water temperatures and mineral content should be highest.
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- Measure the actual temperature of the geothermal water
- Test flow rates to see if they are high enough for a stable heating network
- Analyse lithium concentration in the brines to gauge economic viability
If these indicators look good, the Schwabwiller doublet would move from pilot to industrial reference, serving as a template for similar projects across the region.
The future of French lithium may hinge on a handful of core samples and flow tests taken over the coming months.
Why Alsace is such a promising lithium hotspot
Alsace sits above a geologically active rift zone known as the Rhine Graben. Here, deep sedimentary layers trap naturally hot water. In some pockets, scientific studies suggest lithium concentrations of up to 200 milligrams per litre, significantly higher than in many conventional geothermal systems.
This combination of heat and minerals is rare. It allows a single site to produce renewable heat for homes, greenhouses or factories, while also supplying a critical raw material for batteries.
Lithium de France and its parent group Arverne have set an ambitious target: if fully developed, the Alsace resource could yield up to 27,000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). According to the company, that would cover roughly one third of France’s projected lithium needs once EV production scales up.
| Indicator | Target or estimate |
|---|---|
| Depth of wells | Approx. 2,400 m |
| Planned lithium output | Up to 27,000 t/year (LCE) |
| Share of French demand | About one third |
| Direct jobs expected | Around 200 |
Beyond numbers, the project is presented as a test case for industrial sovereignty: producing part of Europe’s battery metals at home, rather than importing refined lithium from Asia or South America.
Climate goals and local benefits
Cutting emissions with geothermal heat and “cleaner” lithium
The drilling campaign is framed as a climate tool as much as a mining project. By replacing fossil‑fuel boilers with deep geothermal heating, Lithium de France claims it can cut CO₂ emissions linked to heat supply by up to 90%, compared with traditional oil or gas systems.
On the lithium side, using geothermal brines avoids open‑pit mines and evaporation ponds seen in some producing regions. The company suggests emissions per tonne of lithium could be roughly 70% lower than with conventional production routes, although full life‑cycle data still need to be proven at scale.
Geothermal lithium aims to offer batteries with a lighter environmental footprint, without sending supply chains halfway around the planet.
Jobs and regional development
For northern Alsace, the project also carries economic hopes. Arverne Group forecasts around 200 direct jobs, from drilling specialists and geologists to plant operators and maintenance staff. Indirect employment in services, logistics and local manufacturing could add to that figure.
Local authorities view the site as a potential anchor for an energy and battery materials hub, attracting suppliers and possibly cell manufacturers keen to advertise a “made in Europe” supply chain.
Uncertainties and local concerns
Despite the optimistic projections, major questions remain. This is a prototype, not yet a full commercial plant. Engineers must still show that the brine flows consistently, that lithium grades remain stable over time, and that extraction technologies work reliably at industrial scale.
Community acceptance also shapes the project’s future. Some residents and environmental organisations have raised concerns about seismic risk, subsidence, or potential impacts on groundwater. Others worry that local heating bills or economic returns might not reflect the scale of public support and disruption.
- Will the wells trigger small tremors, as seen in other geothermal projects in Europe?
- Can the brine loop be fully sealed to avoid contamination of shallow aquifers?
- How will profits and energy savings be shared with nearby communities?
Regulators will be watching the monitoring data closely. France has had setbacks with deep geothermal in the past, including minor induced earthquakes near Strasbourg. The Alsace lithium operation will be judged partly on how it addresses those earlier lessons.
How geothermal lithium extraction actually works
The concept behind geothermal lithium is relatively simple to describe, yet technologically demanding to execute. Hot brine, loaded with dissolved salts and minerals, is pumped to the surface through one well. At surface level, heat exchangers transfer the thermal energy to a secondary fluid, feeding a local heating grid or industrial process.
In parallel, a chemical treatment unit passes the cooled brine through materials that selectively capture lithium ions. Once the lithium is removed, the brine is re‑injected underground through the second well, completing a closed loop.
The captured lithium goes through further refining to produce lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide, the compounds used in most modern battery cathodes. Each of these steps must run efficiently and reliably for the project to compete on cost with imported lithium.
What this could mean for European batteries
If Alsace proves successful, similar sedimentary basins along the Rhine and elsewhere in Europe could see a wave of geothermal lithium projects. That would change regional battery supply dynamics, giving carmakers and gigafactories a stronger argument for locating production inside the EU.
From a practical standpoint, a domestic lithium supply can reduce shipping delays, currency risks and price spikes. Automakers could sign long‑term offtake agreements with projects like Schwabwiller, locking in volumes years in advance. For consumers, the benefits might show up indirectly through more stable EV prices and better guarantees on ethical sourcing.
There are also broader energy system knock‑on effects. Widespread geothermal heating could lower winter gas demand, easing pressure on European grids and gas imports during peak months. Combined with storage technologies, including the very batteries lithium enables, such projects could help stabilise power networks and limit energy price volatility.
On the risk side, investors must weigh geological uncertainty, regulatory scrutiny and public opinion. If initial wells disappoint in terms of lithium content or flow, financing for follow‑up projects may tighten. That is why data gathered in Schwabwiller during the next drilling and testing season will be watched not only in Paris and Brussels, but also in mining and battery boardrooms across the globe.
Originally posted 2026-03-03 15:09:05.