A tripartite partnership to deliver the UK’s first commercial-scale lithium supplies using advanced membrane-based direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology has been announced by Northern Lithium, Kurita and Evove.
With Evove DLE at the heart of modular plants engineered and manufactured by Kurita, Northern Lithium aims to commence commercial lithium production at sites in County Durham, in the northeast of England, with an initial capacity of 500 t/y in 2027, ramping up to 20,000-plus tonnes per year by 2035.
This exclusive partnership agreement for at least the first 5,000 t of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) follows extensive pump and reservoir tests and the processing of millions of litres of saline brines abstracted from Northern Lithium’s Northern Pennine Orefield catchment area, including the successful field trials of a 1:15 scale demonstration DLE unit at the company’s first site at Ludwell Farm in County Durham between January and April 2025.
This partnership is significant being among the first to deliver secure, sustainable local lithium supplies to domestic and regional markets, providing significant environmental and economic benefits, as well as reducing exposure to volatile global supply chains, the companies say.
Having established the commercial viability of lithium extraction in the northeast of England, Northern Lithium is now launching the next steps towards commercial lithium production from its Northern Pennine Orefield brines. Using Evove’s DLE advanced membrane-based technology, Kurita’s water process engineering and manufacturing capabilities will deliver modular and scalable DLE plants. These production plants will be housed in large agricultural style sheds, from which the lithium depleted brines are then injected back into the below-ground aquifer.
“Northern Lithium has trusted in our DLE technology from the outset and has been able to move forward to commercial production faster than we typically see globally,” Evove CEO, Chris Wyres, said. “Being able to process the Northern Lithium brines extensively at the Evove DLE Test Centre, just a two-hour drive from site, has accelerated progress, leapfrogging several other lithium production projects we are involved in across the UK, EU and North America.”
Kurita’s expertise in water treatment adds a further dimension to the project. The Kurita Group, conducting business globally, has over 75 years of experience in water treatment solutions for advanced industries, including semi-conductor manufacturers around the world.
Makoto Mizuno, Executive General Manager of Kurita’s Innovation Division, said: “We are truly thrilled to have forged an international partnership that will accelerate the commercialisation of a lithium extraction plant powered by Evove’s groundbreaking DLE technology. This project represents a fusion of our decades of expertise in advanced water treatment with the cutting-edge innovations and deep knowledge of Evove and Northern Lithium. Together, Kurita is creating a transformative solution that delivers both exceptional efficiency and a significant reduction in environmental impact. By combining the strengths of all three companies, we aim to establish a sustainable resource supply system that will play a significant role in realizing a carbon-neutral society. This is more than a project – it’s a shared commitment to shaping a cleaner, more sustainable future.”
Nick Pople, the CEO of Northern Lithium, said: “As we look to first commercial production by the end of 2027, we have real confidence in the Evove-Kurita DLE solution. Having signed the strategic partnership MOU in Tokyo last week, we have already started the detailed engineering and design phase for the commercial plants. Kurita and Evove consider processing our brine relatively simple and we look forward to the first commercial production units being installed on site in 2027”.
