Lithium de france
Lithium de France, a subsidiary of Arverne Group, operates geothermal wells in Alsace's Upper Rhine Graben to simultaneously produce renewable heat for industrial and municipal customers and battery-grade lithium carbonate for electric vehicle battery manufacturers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBischwiller, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lithium de france does
Lithium de France, founded in 2020 and headquartered in Haguenau, Alsace, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arverne Group (Euronext Paris: ARVEN) and operates as France's first independent geothermal heat and lithium producer. The company develops deep geothermal wells in the Upper Rhine Graben to simultaneously produce renewable heat for industrial, agricultural, and municipal customers and battery-grade lithium carbonate for electric vehicle battery manufacturers. The company operates the Schwabwiller site in the commune of Betschdorf under Exclusive Research Permits (PER) granted by French authorities.
The company's core technology is its Dual Flow extraction system, which pulls lithium-rich geothermal brines (180 ppm lithium concentration) from deep wells at high temperatures (145°C), separates and processes the brine to recover battery-grade lithium carbonate, and recovers thermal energy for distribution to nearby industrial and municipal users. The first production well at Schwabwiller, completed in April 2026, achieved a flow rate of 275 m³/h at 145°C with 180 ppm lithium concentration, exceeding all initial production targets. The company targets annual production of 27,000 tonnes of geothermal lithium carbonate (approximately one-third of France's annual lithium needs) and approximately 4 TWh per year of deep geothermal energy by 2031-2033 as part of the Arverne Group's Dual Flow industrial plan.
Lithium de France operates an enterprise B2B go-to-market anchored on long-term direct contracts. Revenue is intended to come from two streams: long-term geothermal heat supply contracts with businesses, farmers, and territorial collectivities (with 30-year terms already executed), and long-term off-take agreements for battery-grade lithium carbonate with European EV battery manufacturers. The company has signed a €150 million pre-contract over 30 years and is targeting €400 million in long-term contracts by 2026. To date it has raised €92 million in equity (€44 million Series B in March 2023, €40 million Series B2 in September 2025 led by Equinor Ventures) and secured a €150 million Green Industry Tax Credit. The project has been designated among the 150 Grands Projets Stratégiques of France. As a standalone subsidiary the company remains pre-revenue; consolidated Arverne Group revenue of €18 million in 2025 included only €0.8 million from the Heating & Cooling segment, with a consolidated net loss of €23.6 million reflecting heavy growth investment.
Lithium de france firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lithium de france
- Legal name
- Lithium de France
- Website
- https://www.lithiumdefrance.earth/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lithium de France, a subsidiary of Arverne Group, operates geothermal wells in Alsace's Upper Rhine Graben to simultaneously produce renewable heat for industrial and municipal customers and battery-grade lithium carbonate for electric vehicle battery manufacturers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lithium de france industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Geothermal Energy and Lithium Extraction
- NAICS
- Geothermal Electric Power Generation (221116), Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply (221330)
- SIC
- Metal Mining (1000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction (IMAKAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Geothermal Power Plant Development & IPP (Permitting, Financing, Project Development) (EUAMAEAD), Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate) (IMAKAFAI), Geothermal Drilling & Well Construction (Production/Injection, Directional, Well Services) (EUAMAEAB)
Keywords
Where Lithium de france is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bischwiller
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Lithium de france business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Geothermal Heat Sales: Sale of geothermal heat to businesses, agricultural operators, and territorial collectivities (municipalities). Heat is supplied via dedicated distribution infrastructure from geothermal wells. Long-term supply contracts anchor revenue.
- Lithium Carbonate Sales: Production and sale of geothermal-derived lithium carbonate to electric vehicle battery manufacturers. Production target of 27,000 tonnes per year to meet approximately one-third of France's annual lithium needs. Revenue from long-term off-take agreements with battery producers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Lithium de france product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lithium de France operates as France's first independent geothermal heat and lithium producer, extracting lithium-rich geothermal brines from deep wells in the Upper Rhine Graben in Alsace to simultaneously produce zero-carbon geothermal heat for industrial, agricultural, and municipal customers and battery-grade lithium carbonate for electric vehicle battery manufacturers. The company operates the Schwabwiller site under Exclusive Research Permits (PER), targeting 27,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year and approximately 4 TWh per year of deep geothermal energy production by 2031-2033.
Product overview
Lithium de France operates as the first independent French operator of geothermal heat and lithium, offering two interconnected core services: geothermal heat production for businesses, farmers, and local authorities in northern Alsace, and geothermal lithium extraction for electric vehicle battery manufacturing. The company manages the Schwabwiller operational site in the Upper Rhine Graben geological zone, producing geothermal lithium at 180 ppm lithium concentration and 145°C temperature, targeting 27,000 tonnes of geothermal lithium carbonate annually to supply one-third of France's needs. As a subsidiary of Arverne Group, the company is recognized among the 150 major strategic industrial projects (GPS) in France.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Geothermal Heat Production Provides geothermal heat energy to businesses, farmers, and local territorial authorities in northern Alsace, France, utilizing the Upper Rhine Graben geological formation. Heat is supplied via dedicated infrastructure from geothermal wells under long-term contracts.
- Geothermal Lithium Carbonate Production Extracts lithium from geothermal brines in the Alsace region to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate for electric vehicle battery manufacturers, targeting 27,000 tonnes annually to meet approximately one-third of France's annual lithium needs.
- Schwabwiller Geothermal Operations Site First operational site in northern Alsace (commune of Betschdorf) where two geothermal wells produce heat and enable lithium extraction, operating under Exclusive Research Permits (PER) granted to Lithium de France.
Quantifiable outcome
- First geothermal well flow rate of 275 m³/h at 145°C with 180 ppm lithium concentration, exceeding all initial production targets
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lithium de france
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Lithium de france technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Lithium de france partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)minorScientific partnership with KIT to deepen understanding and monitoring of induced seismicity in the Upper Rhine Graben, advancing responsible geothermal development practices.
- Arverne GroupcoreArverne Group is the parent company and majority shareholder of Lithium de France. The subsidiary advances its pre-industrial geothermal lithium project under the parent company's strategic direction and Dual Flow industrial plan targeting 4 TWh/year heat production and 27,000 tonnes/year lithium carbonate by 2031-2033.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lithium de france competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eramet: French mining group advancing lithium extraction in France (Centrale Lithium project in Allier). Competes for French and European battery-grade lithium offtake with comparable strategic-policy backing.
- Vulcan Energy Resources: German-headquartered developer of geothermal lithium from the same Upper Rhine Graben resource, using the same dual heat-and-lithium extraction approach. Most direct comparable by geology, technology, and end markets.
- Viridian Lithium: France-focused lithium developer pursuing domestic battery-grade lithium production. Cited alongside Lithium de France in French critical-minerals policy coverage as a parallel domestic champion.
Emerging players
- EnergySource Minerals: Operator of the John L. Featherstone geothermal lithium plant at the Salton Sea, California. Direct competitor in the geothermal-brine lithium category with similar dual-stream economics.
- Imerys: French minerals group developing the EMILI hard-rock lithium project in the Massif Central. Competes in the same French/European battery-grade lithium offtake market via a different feedstock (mica).
- Standard Lithium: North American developer of direct lithium extraction (DLE) from Smackover brine, with technology adjacency to Lithium de France's selective lithium recovery from geothermal brines. Competes in the battery-grade lithium space.
- Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR): Developer of the Hell's Kitchen geothermal lithium and power project in California. Closest US analog: combined geothermal power, heat, and lithium extraction from a single brine resource.
Broad incumbents
- Ormat Technologies: Global geothermal power and heat equipment/IPP developer. Larger incumbent with overlapping geothermal development capabilities but focused on power generation rather than lithium coproduction.
- ENGIE (Geothermal division): Major French utility with deep geothermal district-heating operations in France and Europe. Overlaps with Lithium de France's heat-distribution business as an established incumbent player.
Others
- Arverne Group: Parent company and majority owner of Lithium de France, listed on Euronext Paris (ARVEN). Anchors shared geothermal expertise, project financing, and the Dual Flow industrial plan targeting 4 TWh/year heat and 27,000 t/year lithium carbonate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lithium de france social profiles
Digital presenceLithium de france financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lithium de france leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Lithium de france funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lithium de france M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lithium de france
What does Lithium de france do?
Lithium de France operates as France's first independent geothermal heat and lithium producer, extracting lithium-rich geothermal brines from deep wells in the Upper Rhine Graben in Alsace to simultaneously produce zero-carbon geothermal heat for industrial, agricultural, and municipal customers and battery-grade lithium carbonate for electric vehicle battery manufacturers. The company operates the Schwabwiller site under Exclusive Research Permits (PER), targeting 27,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year and approximately 4 TWh per year of deep geothermal energy production by 2031-2033.
Is Lithium de france a public or private company?
Lithium de france is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Lithium de france founded?
Lithium de france was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lithium de france based?
Lithium de france is headquartered in Bischwiller, France, in the Europe region.
How does Lithium de france make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Geothermal Heat Sales are the primary driver. The others are lithium Carbonate Sales.
Who are Lithium de france's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eramet, Vulcan Energy Resources and Viridian Lithium. Emerging players are EnergySource Minerals, Imerys, Standard Lithium and Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR). Broad incumbents are Ormat Technologies and ENGIE (Geothermal division). Arverne Group is listed as an others.
Does Lithium de france have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lithium de france.
What industry is Lithium de france in?
Lithium de france's product category is Geothermal Energy and Lithium Extraction. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAFAA, Lithium Mining & Brine Extraction, with a secondary code of EUAMAEAD, Geothermal Power Plant Development & IPP (Permitting, Financing, Project Development). Its NAICS code is 221116 and its SIC code is 1000.