The Rotliegend as a Lithium Resource in the North German Basin – From Exploration to Extraction

RoLiXX – Lithium from the Depths of Northern Germany

RoLiXX is a collaborative research project funded by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). Together with five partners from academia and industry, we investigate the challenges surrounding lithium extraction from deep geological formations in Northern Germany – focusing on sustainability, economic viability, and societal acceptance.

Funding Program
GEO:N – Geoscience Research for Sustainability
Funding Reference Number
03G0941
Project Duration
January 2026 – December 2028
Funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space
A person wearing green lab gloves drips a liquid sample into another person's gloved hand

Background

Why Lithium from the Rotliegend?

Lithium is a critical raw material for the energy transition. Whether for electric mobility, stationary energy storage systems, or smartphones, modern society relies heavily on lithium-ion batteries. Yet Europe remains almost entirely dependent on imported lithium supplies.

At the same time, a largely overlooked resource lies beneath Northern Germany. The rocks of the Rotliegend – a geological formation that is in places more than 280 million years old – contain hot, saline deep formation waters with significant concentrations of dissolved lithium. This resource is currently being explored by various stakeholders across more than 20 licensed exploration areas.

Exploration licenses granted since 2023
20+
Lithium measured in brines from the Altmark region
441 mg/L
EU CRMA domestic supply target by 2030
10%

Gallery

Glimpses from the project

Project group at the Sventesius quarry near Altenhausen

Project group at the Sventesius quarry near Altenhausen: the rocks visible here occur further north in the Altmark only at depths of three to five kilometers. In the quarry, researchers can study how thermal water flows through the sandstones and where lithium might be bound within the rock. — © Fretzdorff/PTJ

Research

What We Investigate

01 / 03

Where does the lithium come from – and how much is there?

We investigate the origin of lithium in the geological subsurface. Was it released from the sedimentary rocks themselves, from the underlying volcanic formations, or from the overlying Zechstein deposits? We also analyze how efficiently lithium-rich brine can be extracted from the reservoir rocks. The results will contribute to an updated Lithium Atlas of the North German Basin, identifying the most promising regions for future development.

The Consortium

RoLiXX brings together the expertise of five partners from industry and research, supported by two federal institutions

Associated Partners

Goals and Outlook

Scientific Foundations for a Holistic Resource Assessment

The goal of RoLiXX is to establish the scientific foundations for a holistic assessment of lithium resources in the context of future lithium production from the North German Basin.

In the long term, this could support the development of a complete lithium value chain in Germany – from raw material extraction and refining to battery manufacturing – in cooperation with companies already established in the region.

  1. Step 1
    Extraction
  2. Step 2
    Refining
  3. Step 3
    Battery Manufacturing
  4. Step 4
    Application in Vehicles and Large-Scale Energy Storage Systems

News

RoLiXX Connects Research and Practice

During the project meeting in the Altmark region, the RoLiXX team gained hands-on insights into wellbore engineering, thermal water production, and the operation of the new DLE pilot plant. A geological field trip to Rotliegend outcrops rounded out the program. The findings help improve reservoir models and advance lithium extraction from thermal water.

People in a field
Project group at the Sventesius quarry near Altenhausen

Kickoff Meeting in Berlin

On March 19, 2026, the RoLiXX consortium held its kickoff meeting in Berlin. All project partners participated and agreed on the immediate next steps. This marked the official start of three years of collaborative research.

Contact

For press inquiries and general questions about the project, please contact us directly by email.