Tees Valley Lithium

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.

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

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

• Battery-grade lithium refining
• Lithium hydroxide production
• Battery materials manufacturing
• EV battery raw materials
• Lithium chemicals processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Darlington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Wates GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 24 February 2026Family owned UK contractor engaged for Pre-Construction Services Agreement to advance detailed engineering coordination, construction planning, programme development and cost alignment.
• Watercycle TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 12 February 2026Partnership 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 LimitedcoreTechnology or Integration · 12 February 2026Digital 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2025Binding 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 PlccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBinding 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.
• VeoliacoreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal leader in environmental solutions providing the proven refining technology behind TVL's process, ensuring efficient, reliable, and scalable lithium conversion.
• Wave InternationalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialist in resource project delivery leading engineering and execution, ensuring technical precision from concept to commissioning.
• PD PortscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCritical logistics partner offering direct access to global shipping routes via Teesport, ensuring efficient import of feedstock and export of refined lithium products.
• Wogen ResourcesstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDecades of experience in raw materials trading, securing diversified and ethically sourced lithium feedstock to support long-term supply stability.
• Gardiner & TheobaldstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndependent construction and property consultancy working to minimise risk and create opportunities to maximise value of developments and property assets.
• px GroupstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperator, manager, and partner focused on creating a sustainable and thriving future through safe performance of assets and sites.
• Logic-i GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngaged to provide cost estimate assurance for the lithium refinery in Billingham.
• BPstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey 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

Broad 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tees-valley-lithium
• Xx.com/TVLithium
• Facebookfacebook.com/TeesValleyLithium

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Tees Valley Lithium