Major lithium discovery in fracking wastewater leaves the left facing EV 'irony'
What is the estimated amount of lithium that can be extracted annually from the wastewater in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale according to the University of Pittsburgh study?
According to the University of Pittsburgh study, the estimated amount of lithium that can be extracted annually from the wastewater in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale is up to 40% of the lithium needed in the U.S. This could potentially meet nearly half of the country's lithium needs. The study used compliance data from fracking companies and estimated that lithium from wastewater produced by Marcellus shale gas wells could supply 30-40% of the country's demand for the alkali metal. The researchers used data collected from 2012 to 2023 from the wastewater of 515 wells in Pennsylvania.
How does the typical lithium requirement for an electric vehicle compare to that needed for Tesla vehicles?
The typical electric vehicle (EV) requires nearly 18 pounds of lithium to power its battery. However, this figure grows exponentially for Tesla vehicles. The specific lithium requirement for Tesla vehicles is not mentioned in the provided information, but it is important to note that Tesla uses a significant amount of lithium in their batteries to achieve the desired performance and range.
What economic impact could the discovery of lithium in fracking wastewater have on states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio?
The discovery of lithium in fracking wastewater could have a significant economic impact on states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. According to a University of Pittsburgh study, processing byproducts from natural gas production in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale basin could potentially meet nearly half of U.S. lithium needs. This could lead to the development of a new domestic source of lithium, reducing the country's reliance on imports from countries like Chile, Argentina, and China.
In addition, the extraction of lithium from wastewater could create new job opportunities in the affected states. For example, in Pennsylvania alone, the natural gas industry supports around 100,000 union jobs. The increased demand for lithium due to its use in electric vehicle batteries and other electronic devices could lead to further growth in the industry and related sectors.
Furthermore, the potential for extracting lithium from wastewater could reduce the cost of remediating and handling wastewater produced by fracking. This could lead to more efficient and environmentally friendly processes in the gas industry.
However, it is important to note that there are still concerns about the environmental impacts of extracting lithium from wastewater, and the economic feasibility of large-scale extraction has yet to be determined. Further research and development are needed to fully understand the potential benefits and drawbacks of this discovery.