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Lithium extraction from open-pit mining causes significant environmental damage, prompting Europe to explore geothermal extraction methods. Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology is being implemented in regions such as Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony-Anhalt, and Cornwall.

Vulcan Energy, supported by major shareholders like Stellantis and BNP Paribas, has achieved a 95% lithium recovery rate from brine at depths of 2-3 km near Landau, Germany, while minimizing water usage and carbon emissions. The company's 'Lionheart' project aims to produce 24,000 tons of lithium annually, enough for 500,000 electric vehicles.

The Fraunhofer IEG study indicates substantial lithium reserves in Germany, particularly in the North German Plain and Saxony-Anhalt. Neptune Energy plans to utilize new DLE technology to extract lithium in North Germany, while Cornish Lithium is exploring lithium extraction in Cornwall. In Belgium, concentrations of 100 mg/L lithium were found by the startup Hita, though commercial viability remains uncertain.