Tees Valley Lithium
Tees Valley Lithium is developing the UK's first large-scale lithium hydroxide refinery in Billingham, Teesside, producing 25,000 tpa of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate for European EV battery manufacturers and gigafactories, with planned expansion to 100,000 tpa.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersDarlington, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Tees Valley Lithium does
Tees Valley Lithium (TVL) is a UK-based lithium refining development project building the country's first large-scale lithium hydroxide refinery on a 17.2-acre brownfield site in Billingham, Teesside. The facility is engineered to produce 25,000 tonnes per annum of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate in Phase 1, with phased expansion to 100,000 tpa — capacity sufficient to supply more than 2 million electric vehicles per year. Its core technology stack combines Veolia's proven OEM-validated lithium conversion process, Watercycle Technologies' on-site lithium recovery system (capable of recovering up to 800 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent per annum), and Circulor's digital batch-level traceability platform for EU Battery Regulation compliance and battery passport readiness.
TVL sells battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate directly to European electric vehicle battery manufacturers and gigafactories under long-term offtake agreements. Revenue is structured around processing margins rather than lithium price volatility, providing infrastructure-style cash flow characteristics. The company has secured a binding offtake agreement with Glencore Plc covering up to 40% of Phase 1 capacity and a binding five-year feedstock agreement with Touchstone Capital Partners' Project Llamara in Chile for up to 100,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting European gigafactories, supported by logistics via PD Ports' Teesport and feedstock sourcing via Wogen Resources.
The project is wholly owned by Alkemy Capital Investments plc and is transitioning from development to execution, with ABG Sundal Collier arranging US$245 million of financing and Ara Partners providing an indicative term sheet for a $100 million equity investment at construction stage. Construction is scheduled to commence mid-2026, with first production targeted for early 2028 and forecast steady-state EBITDA of approximately $66 million per annum at Phase 1. The site is powered by renewable energy from Dogger Bank offshore wind and benefits from the established Teesside chemical cluster infrastructure.
Tees Valley Lithium firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tees Valley Lithium
- Legal name
- Tees Valley Lithium Ltd.
- Website
- https://teesvalleylithium.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tees Valley Lithium is developing the UK's first large-scale lithium hydroxide refinery in Billingham, Teesside, producing 25,000 tpa of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate for European EV battery manufacturers and gigafactories, with planned expansion to 100,000 tpa.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tees Valley Lithium industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Battery Materials Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Chemical Manufacturing (325)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate) (IMAKAFAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite) (EUAFABAA), Battery Recycling & Materials Recovery (Li-ion, LFP, Flow, Lead-Acid) (EUAMALAE)
Keywords
Where Tees Valley Lithium is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Darlington
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Tees Valley Lithium business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Lithium Hydroxide Sales: TVL generates revenue from producing and selling battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate to European electric vehicle battery manufacturers and gigafactories. The facility will produce 25,000 tpa in Phase 1 with plans to scale to 100,000 tpa. Revenue is driven by processing margins rather than lithium price volatility, providing more predictable infrastructure-style cash generation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Tees Valley Lithium product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tees Valley Lithium is developing a battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate refinery in Billingham, Teesside, to convert lithium carbonate feedstock into high-purity lithium hydroxide for European EV battery manufacturers and energy storage markets. The Phase 1 facility has a nameplate capacity of 25,000 tonnes per annum and is designed to scale to 100,000 tpa. The refinery is built on a modular design, sited within the established Teesside chemical cluster, and integrates Veolia's refining technology, on-site lithium recovery (via Watercycle Technologies), and Circulor's digital traceability for EU Battery Regulation compliance.
Product overview
Tees Valley Lithium (TVL) is a lithium refining development project — not a software product company. Its sole product offering is a lithium hydroxide refinery (Phase 1: 25,000 tpa, expandable to 100,000 tpa) producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate for the European EV and energy storage markets. TVL's refinery integrates on-site lithium recovery technology via Watercycle Technologies and digital traceability via Circulor's platform. The project is structured in phases (Train 1, with future expansion planned), supported by binding offtake agreements, a feedstock supply agreement with Project Llamara, and financing arranged by ABG Sundal Collier.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Battery-Grade Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate High-purity battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate produced at TVL's planned 25,000 tpa (Phase 1, scalable to 100,000 tpa) refinery in Billingham, Teesside, targeting European electric vehicle battery manufacturers, gigafactories, and energy storage markets. Production leverages Veolia's OEM-validated refining technology, modular plug-and-play design, renewable power from Dogger Bank offshore wind, and integrated Watercycle on-site lithium recovery plus Circulor digital traceability for EU Battery Regulation compliance.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,700 jobs supported over 25 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Tees Valley Lithium
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Tees Valley Lithium technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature2 records
Tees Valley Lithium partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- Wates GroupcoreFamily owned UK contractor engaged for Pre-Construction Services Agreement to advance detailed engineering coordination, construction planning, programme development and cost alignment.
- Watercycle TechnologiescorePartnership to integrate on-site lithium recovery technology expected to recover up to 800 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent annually, potentially generating up to $16 million in additional value per year. Also provides pathway to supply up to 50,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate over five years with at least 50% recycled material.
- Circulor UK LimitedcoreDigital tracking capabilities for compliance with EU battery regulations requiring recycled content thresholds by 2031. Provides full batch-level traceability and battery passport readiness.
- Touchstone Capital Partners (Project Llamara)coreBinding feedstock agreement securing up to 100,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) over five years from Project Llamara in Chile's Salar de Llamara.
- Glencore PlccoreBinding offtake agreement covering up to 40% of initial production capacity (25,000 tpa). One of the world's leading commodity companies providing early commercial validation and revenue visibility.
- VeoliacoreGlobal leader in environmental solutions providing the proven refining technology behind TVL's process, ensuring efficient, reliable, and scalable lithium conversion.
- Wave InternationalcoreSpecialist in resource project delivery leading engineering and execution, ensuring technical precision from concept to commissioning.
- PD PortscoreCritical logistics partner offering direct access to global shipping routes via Teesport, ensuring efficient import of feedstock and export of refined lithium products.
- Wogen ResourcesstrategicDecades of experience in raw materials trading, securing diversified and ethically sourced lithium feedstock to support long-term supply stability.
- Gardiner & TheobaldstrategicIndependent construction and property consultancy working to minimise risk and create opportunities to maximise value of developments and property assets.
- px GroupstrategicOperator, manager, and partner focused on creating a sustainable and thriving future through safe performance of assets and sites.
- Logic-i GroupminorEngaged to provide cost estimate assurance for the lithium refinery in Billingham.
- BPstrategicKey partner in energy and infrastructure providing critical support in delivering low-carbon power solutions and logistics expertise.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tees Valley Lithium competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Livent: Global lithium chemicals producer (now under Arcadium) with significant LiOH capacity. Established incumbent serving battery and industrial customers, representing the supply-side incumbent TVL aims to displace regionally.
- Albemarle Corporation: World's largest dedicated lithium producer with integrated resource-conversion assets. Sets the global benchmark for lithium chemical pricing and supply reliability against which TVL's European premium must compete.
- Tianqi Lithium: Chinese-Australian lithium chemicals giant controlling major conversion capacity. Represents the dominant Asian refining incumbent whose European market share TVL is explicitly targeting to displace.
Emerging players
- European Lithium: Austria-focused lithium developer with conversion ambitions in Wolfsberg. Smaller and earlier-stage than TVL but pursues the same European battery-grade lithium chemicals market.
- Infinity Lithium: Australian developer of the San José lithium project in Spain with integrated downstream conversion plans. Emerging European midstream competitor with smaller scale but similar EU-onshoring thesis.
Direct peers
- Rock Tech Lithium: Canadian-German developer of battery-grade lithium hydroxide converters targeting the European EV supply chain. Direct competitor for European gigafactory offtake agreements and one of the most advanced European midstream lithium projects.
- Keliber (Sibelco): Finnish integrated spodumene-to-lithium-hydroxide producer advancing a refinery in Kokkola. Peer to TVL on the downstream LiOH conversion step and on European customer offtakes.
- Vulcan Energy Resources: German-Australian developer producing battery-grade lithium chemicals from geothermal brines in the Upper Rhine Valley. Direct European competitor with a different (DLE) production route but targeting identical customers.
- Green Lithium: UK-based developer of a battery-grade lithium refinery in Teesside. Direct geographic and product-line peer to TVL, competing for the same UK gigafactory customers and government support.
Others
- Alkemy Capital Investments: TVL's parent company and listed investment vehicle focused on critical minerals processing infrastructure. Parent/strategic holder rather than operating peer, but materially relevant as the listed entity through which TVL's value is partially monetized.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tees Valley Lithium social profiles
Digital presenceTees Valley Lithium financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tees Valley Lithium leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Tees Valley Lithium funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tees Valley Lithium 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 Tees Valley Lithium
What does Tees Valley Lithium do?
Tees Valley Lithium is developing a battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate refinery in Billingham, Teesside, to convert lithium carbonate feedstock into high-purity lithium hydroxide for European EV battery manufacturers and energy storage markets. The Phase 1 facility has a nameplate capacity of 25,000 tonnes per annum and is designed to scale to 100,000 tpa. The refinery is built on a modular design, sited within the established Teesside chemical cluster, and integrates Veolia's refining technology, on-site lithium recovery (via Watercycle Technologies), and Circulor's digital traceability for EU Battery Regulation compliance.
Is Tees Valley Lithium a public or private company?
Tees Valley Lithium is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Tees Valley Lithium founded?
Tees Valley Lithium was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Tees Valley Lithium based?
Tees Valley Lithium is headquartered in Darlington, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Tees Valley Lithium make money?
One revenue line is on record: lithium Hydroxide Sales.
Who are Tees Valley Lithium's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Livent, Albemarle Corporation and Tianqi Lithium. Emerging players are European Lithium and Infinity Lithium. Direct peers are Rock Tech Lithium, Keliber (Sibelco), Vulcan Energy Resources and Green Lithium. Alkemy Capital Investments is listed as an others.
Does Tees Valley Lithium have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tees Valley Lithium.
What industry is Tees Valley Lithium in?
Tees Valley Lithium's product category is Battery Materials Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAFAI, Battery-Grade Chemical Processing (LiOH/Li2CO3, Ni/Co Sulfates, Mn Sulfate), with a secondary code of EUAFABAA, Battery Raw Materials Mining & Refining (Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite). Its NAICS code is 325.