The BrineRIS Autumn School, “Renewable energy and lithium production from geothermal brines”, was held in Karlsruhe, Germany, and organized by Vulcan Energy Subsurface Solutions, Politechnika Wrocławska, and the University of Miskolc.

• We received as many as 72 student applications from 24 nationalities. – says Dr Magdalena Worsa-Kozak, the BrineRIS Project coordinator. – It was not easy to select the best eleven who would explore their knowledge over the five training days. Three independent experts in geothermal energy, deposits, and lithium recovery carefully analyzed and ranked the applications and finally selected five students from Wrocław University of Science and Technology and six from the University of Miskolc. We are delighted that the events being a part of the EIT RawMaterials BrineRIS project are generating such great interest.

The 5-day workshop included a series of training sessions on the operation of geothermal and lithium recovery systems, laboratory visits, and field visits to geothermal and lithium recovery facilities. Vulcan Energy Subsurface Solutions (one of the subsidiaries of Vulcan Energy Group) hosted all Autumn School participants in person at its headquarters in Karlsruhe. The first day included an introduction to the BrineRIS Autumn School and a welcome by the BrineRIS Leader of the consortium, Dr Magdalena Worsa-Kozak, and host from Vulcan Energy – Dr Jens Grimmer. Vulcan Energy specialists dr Jens Grimmer and dr Michael Kraml delivered three training sessions that day. The training program was designed to familiarize participants with the basic principles of heat exchange and geothermal systems and the geological conditions of the Upper Rhine Graben, where Vulcan Energy’s geothermal installations are located.

• I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the BrineRIS Autumn School. Lectures by experts from Vulcan Energy provided me with abundant sources of practical information in areas such as geology, geothermal, hydrogeochemistry, and drilling. Visits to Vulcan Energy Resources’ facilities allowed me to see how this knowledge is put into practice in the context of lithium recovery. – says Mikołaj Narloch, one of the awarded students – This experience motivates me to explore the topics of my studies further. During the training, operating in an international environment developed my collaborative skills and broadened my perspective on global renewable energy challenges. I am confident that the experience gained will positively impact my professional development.

During the second day of the workshop, participants were introduced by Dr. Michael Kraml to the details of establishing, validating, and updating the hydrochemistry database. It also discusses the behavior of geothermal fluids and the problems and solutions related to their flow in geothermal systems.

On the third day, the various lithium extraction methods were discussed in detail, as well as the Vulcan Energy Adsorption-type Direct Lithium Extraction (A-DLE), which is implemented at the pilot plant in Landau by Vulcan Energy. On that day, the students also visited the Vulcan Energy laboratory, where samples taken by the company were tested. Participants were shown a wide range of equipment and methods used by the company, including an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscope (ICP-OES), photometer, particle size analyzer and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

On the fourth day of the workshop, participants learned details about the circulation of geothermal fluids at Vulcan Energy’s geothermal plants, the technologies used there and the use of closed-loop circulation. Participants were also introduced to the problems associated with drilling geothermal wells and how to prevent and solve these problems.

On the fifth day, students participated in field activities that included a visit to the Insheim geothermal plant and the Landau geothermal plant, where they learned about the details of the construction of a lithium recovery plant. In addition, Dr. Jens Grimmer conducted field studies on the geology of the Upper Rhine Graben near Ilbesheim. At the end of the field activity, participants visited Vulcan Energy’s laboratories located in the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology campus, where they could see how laboratory research is carried out to improve the sorbent used by the company in its lithium recovery process.

• The days spent at Vulcan Energy Resources in Karlsruhe were fascinating and very informative. Tours of modern geothermal systems, laboratories and lithium recovery facilities in Landau and Insheim were an extraordinary opportunity to look at technical processes in a real working environment. These visits provided us with practical knowledge and impressions while opening our eyes to the vast possibilities of geothermal energy. This not only expanded our knowledge but also enabled us to see how theoretical concepts are transformed into practical innovations. Conferences led by experts from Vulcan Energy allowed us to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the complexity of lithium recovery processes further. – emphasizes Agnieszka Pawlaczek, student of Geoinformatics from Poland – Participation in the Autumn School was an opportunity for me to gain valuable know-how and make international contacts in the industry. During the breaks between lectures or joint team-building meetings, we had the opportunity to exchange insights and experiences with the speakers and other participants. This exchange of knowledge facilitated my understanding of global renewable energy challenges. The professional experience I gained during the workshop is invaluable and will have a positive impact on my further education in the field of renewable energy.

• The lectures, practical exercises, laboratory visits, and field trips provided the students with substantive knowledge in exploring prospective geothermal deposits,  direct lithium extraction methods, geothermal energy and power plants, drilling, and more. The classes were led by international experts who provided theoretical and practical knowledge. During the field trip, participants visited the Lithium Extraction Plant in Landau, the first operating plant in Europe, newly opened just two days before their visit. It was an exciting experience. There was also time to touch some geology in the field and to visit the modern laboratories of Vulcan Energy Group, where their patented sorbent is produced and tested. – summarizes Dr. Worsa-Kozak – We are grateful to Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd. and Vulcan Energy Subsurface Solutions for their hospitality and the opportunity to visit such unique facilities. We thank all the organizers for a great event and express our special gratitude to Dr. Jens C. Grimmer for perfect coordination and for caring for the group

We are grateful to Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd. and Vulcan Energy Subsurface Solutions for their hospitality and the opportunity to visit such unique facilities. We thank all the organizers for a great event filled with valuable knowledge. We want to express our special gratitude to Dr. Jens C. Grimmer for perfect coordination and for caring for the group.

We are already thinking about new possibilities for the next edition of the BrineRIS Autumn School!

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