What Lilac Solutions does

Lilac Solutions is a private U.S.-based direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology provider founded in 2016 in Oakland, California. The company develops and licenses proprietary ion exchange (IX) technology for extracting lithium from diverse brine resources including salar, oilfield, geothermal, and surface lake brines. Its flagship offering is the fifth-generation (Gen 5) Lilac IX system, paired with a proprietary ceramic ion exchange media (IXM) manufactured at a commercial-scale facility in Fernley, Nevada (200 tpa initial capacity, supporting up to 100,000 tpa LCE globally). Lilac has completed eight successful field deployments across four continents and is developing a 5,000 tpa Phase 1 commercial lithium carbonate facility at Utah's Great Salt Lake, with a planned Phase 2 expansion to 20,000 tpa and first production targeted for 2027-2028.

The company's core technical differentiation centers on its Gen 5 IX media, which delivers up to 10,000 operational cycles versus orders-of-magnitude fewer for competing IX technologies, 20x higher media productivity than conventional alumina adsorbents, and 7x higher lithium concentration in the eluate. These properties enable compact plant designs with reactor volumes ~20x smaller than conventional DLE, projected C1 production costs of $3,200-$5,500 per tonne LCE, and viable economics for ultra-low-grade brines such as the Great Salt Lake (70 mg/L Li, 170:1 Mg:Li ratio) — independently demonstrated recoveries of 87% (Great Salt Lake), 91% (Argentina Jujuy), 94% (Chile), and 85-90% (Kachi). Lilac licenses its technology through flexible design and supply agreements and operates a sales-led go-to-market targeting lithium project developers, energy companies, and governments across the U.S., South America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Lilac generates revenue through technology licensing, IX system supply, IXM media sales, and — starting with Great Salt Lake Phase 1 — direct lithium carbonate production secured under a 10-year take-or-pay offtake agreement with Traxys North America covering 50,000 tonnes. The company is venture-backed with cumulative funding exceeding $315 million from investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, T. Rowe Price, Mercuria, and Valor Equity Partners, and operates with 101-250 employees under CEO Raef Sully (appointed February 2024), Founder and CTO David Snydacker, and CFO David Gelinas.

Name

Lilac Solutions

Legal name

Lilac Solutions, Inc.

Website

https://lilacsolutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lilac Solutions is a U.S.-based private technology provider of proprietary ion exchange (IX) systems for direct lithium extraction from brine resources. It serves lithium project developers, energy companies, and governments globally via technology licensing, IXM media sales, and its own Great Salt Lake commercial facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lithium Extraction Technology

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite) (EUAFABAA)

Keywords

• Direct lithium extraction
• Ion exchange technology
• Lithium brine processing
• Battery-grade lithium
• Lithium extraction media

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing and IX System Supply: Lilac licenses its ion exchange technology and supplies IX systems to lithium project developers globally. The company offers flexible design and supply agreements via license or equivalent structures. Lilac provides the proprietary ion exchange media (IXM), equipment configurations, and flowsheets as part of its technology offering. The company has a 10-year take-or-pay offtake agreement with Traxys for 100% of Phase 1 production from the Great Salt Lake facility, securing financing certainty for the project.
2. Ion Exchange Media (IXM) Sales: The company manufactures and sells its proprietary ceramic IXM from its Fernley, Nevada facility. The IXM is sold to lithium producers deploying Lilac's technology. Initial capacity of 200 tonnes per year can support up to 100,000 tpa LCE globally.
3. Lithium Carbonate Production (Great Salt Lake): Through its own commercial facility at the Great Salt Lake in Utah (Phase 1: 5,000 tpa LCE, Phase 2: 20,000 tpa LCE), Lilac will produce and sell battery-grade lithium carbonate. The 10-year binding offtake agreement with Traxys covers 50,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate over 10 years representing 100% of Phase 1 output.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lilac Solutions develops and licenses proprietary fifth-generation (Gen 5) ion exchange (IX) technology for direct lithium extraction (DLE) from brine resources including salar, oilfield, geothermal, and surface lake brines. The company manufactures its proprietary ceramic-based ion exchange media (IXM) at a commercial-scale facility in Fernley, Nevada, and supplies IX systems, licensing, and engineering services to lithium project developers globally. Lilac is also developing its own Great Salt Lake commercial facility targeting 5,000 tpa LCE in Phase 1.

Product overview

Lilac Solutions is a technology provider of commercially ready ion exchange (IX) solutions for direct lithium extraction (DLE) from brine resources. The product portfolio centers on Lilac IX Gen 5, the company's proprietary fifth-generation ion exchange technology, paired with the proprietary ceramic-based Ion Exchange Media (IXM) manufactured in Nevada. These core offerings are deployed through Commercial IX Systems via flexible licensing arrangements. The company supports customers through mini-piloting, field piloting and demonstration, and commercial deployment phases. Featured projects include the Great Salt Lake commercial facility (Phase 1: 5,000 tpa LCE), the Kachi project in Argentina (partnership with Lake Resources), the Geo Dipa geothermal pilot in Indonesia, and the Neptune Energy oilfield pilot in Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lilac IX Gen 5 Technology Fifth-generation proprietary ion exchange (IX) technology for direct lithium extraction from brine resources. Delivers 20x higher media productivity than conventional alumina adsorbents, up to 10,000 operational cycles before replacement, and works across high-grade, low-grade, and complex brines including salar, oilfield, geothermal, and surface lake sources. Licensed and supplied to lithium project developers globally.
• Ion Exchange Media (IXM) Proprietary ceramic-based ion exchange media engineered for direct lithium extraction. Manufactured in Fernley, Nevada at initial capacity of 200 tonnes per year (sufficient to support up to 100,000 tpa LCE globally). Delivers up to 10,000 operational cycles before replacement, 20x higher media productivity than conventional alumina adsorbents, and superior lithium selectivity across brine types. Sold to lithium producers deploying Lilac's technology.
• Commercial IX Systems Flexible design and supply agreements for commercial-scale lithium extraction deployment via license or equivalent arrangements. Scalable, modular design using off-the-shelf equipment, enabling producers to implement Lilac IX technology at their brine resource projects with support from mini-piloting through field piloting and demonstration to commercial operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% average lithium recovery on ultra-low-grade Great Salt Lake brine (69-70 mg/L Li)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HatchcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 23 June 2026Lilac selected Hatch as the engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm for its Phase 1 commercial lithium carbonate facility on Utah's Great Salt Lake. Hatch will support engineering, procurement, and management of construction and commissioning of the 5,000 tpa facility, with first lithium production planned for 2028. The agreement includes a limited notice to proceed allowing detailed engineering and early procurement to advance ahead of the final investment decision expected later in 2026.
• PT Geo Dipa Energi (GDE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2026Through a USTDA-funded pilot project, Lilac is deploying its ion exchange DLE technology at Geo Dipa Energi's Dieng geothermal field in Central Java, Indonesia. This will be Indonesia's first facility to draw lithium from geothermal brine. USTDA provided a $3.9 million grant. The project aims to create a trusted source for lithium supply, support Indonesia's battery industry development, and attract international financing. Target completion is 2026.
• Traxys North AmericacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 January 2026Lilac and Traxys entered into a binding 10-year take-or-pay offtake agreement for lithium carbonate produced at Lilac's Great Salt Lake facility in Utah. Traxys will purchase 50,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate over 10 years, representing 100% of Phase 1 production (5,000 tpa LCE). The agreement provides financing certainty for the project while securing Traxys access to domestic U.S. lithium supply. Pricing is linked to market indices. Martim Facada, Managing Director of lithium trading at Traxys, stated the partnership advances their shared vision for a robust U.S. lithium supply chain.
• Neptune EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2025Lilac partnered with Neptune Energy for its first European lithium pilot at Neptune's Altmark facility in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The pilot ran from May through August 2025 and processed brine from Neptune's existing gas-associated wells through to battery-grade lithium carbonate on-site. The pilot achieved strong lithium recovery and impurity rejection, marking the first successful field deployment of Lilac IX on oil and gas brine. Neptune's Altmark resource is one of the world's largest at 43 million tonnes LCE. The Neptune pilot marks Lilac's seventh successful field deployment.
• Lake Resources NLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLilac partnered with Lake Resources for technology and funding to develop Lake's Kachi Lithium Brine Project in Argentina. Under the earn-in agreement, Lilac contributes technology, engineering teams, and an on-site demonstration plant to earn up to 25% stake in the Kachi project based on performance. Lilac's Gen 4 IX technology achieved 91% lithium recovery at the Jujuy demonstration plant. Lake's Kachi project covers ~69,000 hectares over a lithium-bearing salt lake in Catamarca Province.
• Cypress DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLilac partnered with Cypress Development to demonstrate high lithium recoveries from Cypress's Clayton Valley Clay Project in Nevada. Lilac's IX process achieved 83% lithium recovery from clay leachate while rejecting >99% of sodium, potassium, and magnesium impurities. Cypress's Clayton Valley project contains 3.8 million tonnes LCE in Indicated Resource category. The partnership was advancing toward pilot plant and commercial development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• EnergyX: EnergyX is a direct DLE technology competitor developing its own ion exchange and membrane-based lithium extraction solutions. Both companies target the same lithium brine project developer customers with similar technology licensing and media supply business models.
• Standard Lithium: Standard Lithium is a DLE technology and lithium project developer pursuing the Smackover brine resource in Arkansas. Both companies deploy proprietary DLE technologies to extract lithium from brine resources, pursuing licensing and direct production revenue streams.
• Sunresin: Sunresin is a Chinese specialty chemicals company whose alumina-based ion exchange adsorbents are the incumbent technology Lilac's Gen 5 IX is designed to displace. It is the dominant IXM supplier for DLE and represents the primary competitive technology benchmark.
• International Battery Metals (IBAT): IBAT is a DLE technology company offering modular, containerized direct lithium extraction systems. It competes with Lilac for the same lithium project developer customers, though it has pursued a smaller-scale, mobile extraction unit model.
• Summit Nanotech: Summit Nanotech is a Canadian DLE technology company using sorbent-based extraction for lithium from brine. Both companies target similar lithium project developer customers globally and are pursuing commercial licensing and project-level deployment.

Emerging players

• Vulcan Energy Resources: Vulcan is developing integrated geothermal energy and lithium extraction from the Upper Rhine Valley in Germany. It overlaps with Lilac's Neptune Energy oilfield brine and Geo Dipa geothermal pilots and represents a competing pathway to monetize non-conventional lithium brine resources.
• Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR): CTR is developing geothermal lithium extraction projects at the Salton Sea in California. It overlaps with Lilac's geothermal brine ambitions (similar to Geo Dipa Indonesia) and represents a competing pathway to commercialize U.S. geothermal lithium resources.

Broad incumbents

• Albemarle: Albemarle is the world's largest lithium producer with established brine operations in Chile and the U.S. It is both a potential DLE technology adopter/partner and the dominant incumbent whose market share Lilac's projects are designed to displace via lower-cost domestic supply.
• SQM: SQM is a leading global lithium producer from Chilean salars with significant brine extraction operations. It represents the largest incumbent producer and a primary benchmark for Lilac's cost and sustainability claims.
• Livent: Livent is a major lithium producer with brine-based operations in Argentina and other geographies. It is a broad incumbent that competes with Lilac-licensed projects in supplying battery-grade lithium to global EV supply chains.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lilac-solutions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds10 records

Investors27 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lilac Solutions