Weardale Lithium has secured grant funding which will support the next phase of development at its geothermal lithium project in County Durham.
The business landed the grants through the UK government’s £4bn DRIVE35 Scale-Up: Feasibility Studies competition.
The programme, delivered by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) and Innovate UK, is designed to accelerate investment in zero-emission vehicle technologies and strengthen the UK’s end-to-end automotive and battery supply chain.
The grant funding will enable Weardale Lithium to undertake a detailed feasibility study to map its geothermal lithium-bearing brinefield within the North Pennine Orefield.
This will de-risk future commercial deployment of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology and inform long-term wellfield design and commercial production strategy.
Lithium is a critical mineral for lithium-ion batteries used in zero-emission electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
The UK government’s 2025 Critical Minerals Strategy set out a roadmap to establish competitive domestic production of lithium raw materials.
Stewart Dickson, chief executive of Weardale Lithium, said: “Securing support through the DRIVE35 Scale-Up programme is an important milestone for Weardale Lithium and for the development of a secure, domestic lithium supply in the UK.
“This funding enables us to undertake critical subsurface mapping and technical analysis of our geothermal brine resource in County Durham, providing the data needed to inform commercial scale-up and future investment decisions.”
Dickson added: “Our project aligns directly with the UK Critical Minerals Strategy and wider UK Battery Strategy. By developing low-carbon Direct Lithium Extraction integrated with on-site conversion to battery-grade lithium carbonate, we are positioning the North East at the forefront of the UK’s emerging battery materials supply chain while creating high-value jobs and long-term economic benefits for the region.”
Ian Constance, chief executive, Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), added that the projects announced today “demonstrate the UK’s determination to lead the shift to zero-emission mobility”.
“By facilitating the UK Government’s DRIVE35 grants, we are turning world-class innovation into industrial capability. With our partners in DBT and Innovate UK, we are backing manufacturers, empowering SMEs, and strengthening the UK’s sovereign supply chain”, he said.
By Alice Bird Insider Media
