Lithium, Sustainable Mining, Energy Transition and Digital Transformation: The 7 Winning Projects of "R+D Challenges"
Corfo awarded seven innovation challenges with lithium resources for more than US$ 41 million to boost sustainable technological development in Chile.
Chile is the largest producer of copper in the world, with a share close to 24% of global production and is also the second largest producer of lithium, with around 39 billion tons extracted in 2022.
In that context, the Corfo Council awarded seven projects in the first call for R&D Challenges, allocating US$41.8 million from lithium contracts with SQM and Albemarle. The initiatives, focused on lithium, battery reuse, and sustainable mining, will mainly be developed in the regions of Biobío, Tarapacá, Antofagasta and Metropolitan.
The seven projects awarded to promote sustainable technological development in Chile are as follows:
A.- Development of new technological solutions for the production of metallic lithium in Chile. (Up to US$ 6,000,000 for 3 years, with a maximum of 80% for I+D Contribution)
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1.- University of Concepción
R&D Contribution: US$ 5,945,105.
Counterpart: US$ 1,823,633.
Biobío and Metropolitan regions.
Objective: The main goal of this proposal is to develop a technological solution for obtaining metallic Lithium on a pilot scale, producing 50-100 grams of metallic Lithium per daily cycle, with the potential for scaling up to a commercial level.
B.- Advanced reuse of EV (electric vehicle) batteries for stationary storage. (Up to US$ 4,000,000 for 3 years, with a cap of 80% for R&D contribution)
2.- WeTieTec
R&D Contribution: US$ 3,986,101.
Counterpart: US$ 1,065,734.
Antofagasta Region.
Objective: The general objective is to generate an ecosystem for the creation of a value chain for the second life of lithium batteries in Chile, which integrates testing infrastructure, diagnostic protocols and component selection, standards for the re-manufacture of battery banks, laboratory testing and real operating conditions, in addition to integration strategies in the renewable energy market.
3.- Scientific Technological Park Foundation of the Antofagasta Region (PCTA)
R&D Contribution: US$ 3,999,996.
Counterpart: US$ 1,213,682.
Antofagasta Region.
Objective: The goal of the proposed initiative aims to implement a strategic plan that includes technological, regulatory, coordination, and infrastructure requirements aspects, for the reuse of lithium batteries from electric cars and buses, with the purpose of being able to remanufacture them for their use in energy storage, primarily in renewable generation.
4.- CircularTec
R&D Contribution: US$ 4,000,000.
Counterpart: US$ 1,075,657.
Regions of Antofagasta, Tarapacá and Metropolitan.
Objective: The "LiBR3: Lithium battery Reuse, Recycling and Reduction" project focuses on reusing lithium batteries from electric vehicles (EVs) and buses for stationary storage of renewable energy. To achieve this, a sustainable approach of circular economy and life cycle analysis is used, which ensures the economic and environmental viability of second life applications.
5.- University of Santiago, Chile
R&D Contribution: US$ 4,000,000.
Counterpart: US$ 1,599,632.
Metropolitan Region.
Objective: The general objective of the project is to develop advanced solutions for the reuse of lithium batteries from electric vehicles in renewable energy storage systems, promoting the creation of technological infrastructure and specialized technical capabilities, implementing standardized protocols for the evaluation and reconditioning of batteries, formulating business plans and strategies for the transfer and marketing of technologies that ensure the long-term technical and economic sustainability of the project, to contribute to the development of a lithium battery reuse industry in the country.
C.- Development of new technological solutions for emission reduction in copper concentrate processing (Up to USD 10,000,000 for 5 years, with a cap of 80% for R&D Contribution)
6.- National Center for Mining Technology Pilotage (CNP)
R&D Contribution: US$ 9,935,135.
Counterpart: US$ 2,821,869.
Regions of Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama, Metropolitana and Ou2019Higgins.
Objective: The National Piloting Center (CNP), in partnership with Codelco, Pucobre, Glencore, and the Circular Economy Technology Center, presents a project to develop an integrated process of national hydrometallurgical technologies for the treatment of concentrates with arsenic content and the retrieval of strategically valuable elements.
7.- University of Concepción
R&D Contribution: US$ 10,000,000.
Counterpart: US$ 3,278,967.
Biobío Region.
Objective: The project aims to contribute to the decarbonisation of the Mining Industry by proposing a disruptive technology for the processing of copper concentrates, the final link in the production of primary copper.
After a visit to the Metallurgical Department of the University of Concepción, the Minister of Economy, Promotion and Tourism, Nicolás Grau, and the Executive Vice President of Corfo, José Miguel Benavente, along with the Rector of the institution, Carlos Saavedra, highlighted the co-funding of these initiatives that contribute to the promotion of technological development, productive innovation and applied research in strategic areas for the Chilean economy.
Towards a More Sustainable, Greener Economy.
Regarding the challenges assigned by UdeC, Minister Grau maintained that "what the allocation of these funds illustrates is the adherence and commitment that the university has towards relevant challenges for our country. We are a mining country, but like all countries in the world, we must transition towards a more sustainable, greener economy; and we must make that transformation at the highest possible speed and that, of course, requires investment, belief in innovation, and in the development of new technologies".
Meanwhile, the Executive Vice President of Corfo, José Miguel Benavente, emphasized that "we are extremely satisfied with the awarded proposals, there are 7 projects in total, two awarded to UdeC. This is a very innovative mechanism that seeks the solution of problems and to provide opportunities for value generation associated with natural resources in Chile".
He added that lithium is produced in Chile, and lithium refining is carried out - together with China, we are the only country in the world that does lithium refining- and this is one more step in the lithium production chain. This material is widely used in the battery manufacturing industry, among others.
For his part, the rector of the University of Concepción, Carlos Saavedra, highlighted the trajectory of the institution since the 1960s when the Department of Metallurgical Engineering was created, which was crucial for the process of nationalizing copper. "We are tremendously proud of UdeC's abilities to contribute to the sustainable development challenges that Corfo has convened; this is a great opportunity to make visible the potential of the regions", he said.
It is estimated that four of the seven projects are in a position to start their activities at the beginning of 2025, while the other three could begin within the next six months.