MUNICH, Germany, Apr 20, 2026 – Siemens and Vulcan Energy have signed a framework agreement to deploy automation and digital systems for the Lionheart lithium and renewable energy project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley. The project targets annual production of 24,000 tons of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM), along with 275 GWh of renewable power and 560 GWh of heat per annum for local consumers.
Siemens will serve as a supplier of automation and digitalization technology for Vulcan Energy through 2035 under the agreement. The scope covers the Lionheart project and future development phases, with the planned lithium output sized to supply about 500,000 electric vehicle batteries per year over an estimated 30-year project life.
“As both a strategic investor and a key technology partner, we are helping Vulcan Energy establish Europe’s first major sustainable source of lithium,” said Roland Busch, president and CEO of Siemens AG. “With our technology – from advanced automation and digitalization to smart building solutions – we help to ramp-up production faster. This is essential to create a local lithium supply for our energy transition and a more competitive, resilient and sustainable European industry. It is a powerful example of strengthening growth and competitiveness in line with the Made for Germany initiative.”
“The agreement reflects the growing strength of our partnership with Siemens and reinforces our confidence in delivering the objectives of Vulcan’s Lionheart Project. This partnership is an important step in unlocking future opportunities for growth, as we progress toward our goal of decarbonizing Europe’s battery supply chain,” commented Cris Moreno, Vulcan’s managing director and CEO.
The agreement focuses on deployment of automation and digital systems from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio. These include instrumentation, distributed control systems, digital twin models, industrial networks, IT security, and analytics. The systems are intended to support operations from resource extraction to final production. Siemens will also supply building infrastructure systems from its buildings portfolio.
Siemens Financial Services (SFS) is expected to become a minority investor after transaction close, joining a consortium that includes HOCHTIEF and Demea Sustainable Investment. SFS also introduced the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) as a financing partner within the Lionheart project’s debt consortium.
The Lionheart project will operate across multiple sites in the Upper Rhine Valley and Frankfurt region, with Siemens managing industrial processes and building operations. Classified as a Strategic Project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, the project combines lithium extraction with on-site energy generation within a single industrial framework.
Source: Siemens
About Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a technology company founded in 1847 and headquartered in Munich and Berlin, Germany. The company develops products and services in industrial automation, electrification, digital systems, and mobility. Its offerings include automation systems, industrial software, building technologies, rail transport systems, and power distribution solutions. Siemens also provides financial services and supports infrastructure projects. It serves industries such as manufacturing, energy, transportation, construction, and healthcare. The company works with enterprises, utilities, governments, and infrastructure operators worldwide. Siemens operates in more than 190 countries. It applies digital tools and AI to industrial and infrastructure use cases. Siemens holds a majority stake in Siemens Healthineers, a publicly listed healthcare technology company. Siemens has about 318,000 employees globally.
About Vulcan Energy
Vulcan Energy is a lithium and renewable energy company founded in 2018 and headquartered in Perth, Australia. The company develops projects that extract lithium from geothermal brine and generate heat and electricity, with a focus on the Upper Rhine Valley in Germany and France. It produces lithium hydroxide for battery manufacturing and supplies geothermal energy for industrial use. Vulcan’s Lionheart Project is located in the Upper Rhine Valley brine field and involves lithium extraction from subsurface brines using geothermal heat. The process also powers conversion to battery-grade material. The company uses its VULSORB technology for lithium extraction. Vulcan operates across exploration, drilling, extraction, and processing activities linked to lithium and energy production. Its customers include battery manufacturers, electric vehicle producers, and industrial energy users in Europe.