Average carbon intensity of lithium production rises in 2023 by 7%.

The E1 (minesite direct and indirect emissions, plus applicable freight and onward conversion) emission intensity of brine and conventional production remained largely unchanged from 2022. Skarn calculates conventional lithium production to have average E1 intensity of 13.92 tCO2e/t LCE in 2023, whereas brine operations only emitted 2.54 tCO2e/t LCE. The largest cause of increased emissions intensity for conventional mines is that spodumene or lepidolite concentrates need to be further processed to yield either hydroxide or carbonate products, whereas this is not required for brine operations as their process directly outputs these chemicals. 

Moreover, the high energy use in the conversion stage, typically from direct heating through natural gas, means that the conversion step accounted for 10.92 tCO2e/t LCE, or nearly 80% of the total intensity. 

Currently, conventional supply is dominated by countries such as Australia, Brazil and China, representing 61%, 4% and 34% respectively. Australian concentrates are typically shipped to China for conversion where the process is less efficient and coal power is prevalent within the grid mix. Operations expected to come online between 2024 and 2030 will benefit from...

This article is continued in edition 41 of the Skarn Bulletin