# EU names two more geothermal lithium projects, Arverne in France and Altmark in Germany, as Strategic Projects

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/stories/eu-names-two-more-geothermal-lithium-projects-arverne-in-france-and-171b5268
Date: 12 Oct 2026
About: [European Commission](https://technooptimist.io/companies/european-commission.md)
Original source: https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/more-geothermal-lithium-projects-identified-as-strategic-projects-by-the-european-commission/

The European Commission has classified two geothermal lithium projects as Strategic Projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act: Lithium de France's Arverne project in Alsace and Neptune Energy's Altmark project in Germany. Both extract lithium from geothermal brine to make battery-grade lithium compounds, and the label helps with finance and shortens permitting. The output figures are company targets, not confirmed production.

## Key facts

- Lithium de France (Arverne, Alsace) targets 27,000 tonnes of lithium a year over 30 years, co-producing 2 TWh of geothermal heat. Drilling and testing of its first well are complete.
- Neptune Energy (Altmark, Germany) uses brine from existing natural gas wells and targets up to 25,000 tonnes of lithium carbon equivalent a year by 2030. It is in pilot testing now.
- Vulcan Energy (Germany) and Eramet (France) had already received the same classification.
- The Critical Raw Materials Act aims for 10% of the EU's annual strategic raw material use to be extracted in Europe, and 40% processed there by 2030.
- Caveats: the article says the projects could contribute to those targets, not that they will meet them, and it does not detail the financial support or permitting changes.

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