Vulcan Energy (ASX: VUL, FSE: VUL) has signed a major engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract with a consortium of Turboden and ROM Technik to build its first commercial geothermal power plant in Landau, Germany. The deal, valued at about EUR €110 million, marks a key milestone in the company’s Phase One Lionheart Project.
The geothermal plant will use Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology to generate renewable power from geothermal brine. This renewable electricity will be produced alongside lithium hydroxide, with Phase One targeting up to 275 GWh of power and 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year — enough to supply batteries for around 500,000 electric vehicles.
Contract details
- Turboden, part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, will deliver the ORC system, including turbines, heat exchangers, pumps, and related equipment.
- ROM Technik will handle civil works, installation, and coordination of contractors.
- The consortium is responsible for commissioning and performance testing of the plant.
- Payments will follow project milestones, contingent on Vulcan finalising financing in the second half of 2025.
Vulcan Energy’s CEO Cris Moreno said: “The geothermal power plant is a key component of our Phase One operation. Securing the services of both Turboden and ROM Technik will underpin construction and ensure reliable execution. This is yet another milestone in our aim to deliver a local, low-cost source of sustainable lithium for the European battery supply chain, with a co-product of renewable energy production.”
The Lionheart Project is located in the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field and combines lithium extraction with renewable geothermal energy production. Building permits for the 30 MW geothermal plant and electrical substation have already been granted by the City of Landau Council.
Turboden is an Italian company founded in 1980 and a global leader in ORC technology for geothermal and industrial decarbonisation. ROM Technik is a German firm specialising in technical building equipment and large-scale installation projects.
For further news on geothermal development in Germany, see our news coverage here.
Source: Company press release (pdf)
