Lithium? What’s that? 

Lithium is a very light alkali metal. In nature, it is found only: 

  • In the form of brine in salars, large, partially dried-up salt lakes
  • In clay or hard rock such as pegmatite, or granite as is the case at the Imerys British Lithium site

Lithium is an essential metal for the construction of electric vehicle batteries. It is the lightest solid metal, has a low melting point (temperature at which a substance changes from a solid to a liquid state) of 180°C, and high thermal conductivity. 

Periodic table of elements highlighting lithium (Li), atomic number 3, used in batteries and renewable energy technologies.

Lithium is a very light alkaline metal

Unrivalled performance 

These batteries offer a number of benefits:

  • fast charging
  • longer lifespan than other types of battery
  • higher energy density, lighter batteries and longer battery life


 

Key figures

Lithium in numbers

Transport

Percentage of carbon emissions in the UK coming from transport

29%

Greenhouse gases

Greenhouse gas emissions from electric cars compared to thermal cars

2 - 3 times less

New cars

Percentage of new electric cars sold in the UK since the beginning of 2024

20.15%
Frequently Asked Questions

Your Questions about lithium

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Why is the UK government supporting lithium production projects like this one?

Securing a UK supply is essential as we progress on our journey towards Net Zero. This will protect the UK from the effects of global instability and price fluctuations. Globally, we need more lithium than is currently available, and none is currently produced in Europe, which is why the UK government is supporting our project.

Why does the cost of UK lithium production need to be competitive?

It will be important for the cost of UK production of lithium to be competitive, so that we can reliably supply customers over the long term, and justify the major investment required.

Why is a domestic supply of lithium important for the UK and EU?

Lithium pricing has been very volatile over the past few years. But as the UK and EU’s deadline to switch sales of new vehicles to EVs is only 10 years away, and the UK continues on its journey to net zero - the need for a domestic supply of lithium is projected to increase strongly.
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