Vulcan Energy taps Siemens for Lionheart's digitalisation

Siemens and Vulcan Energy have signed a framework agreement for the Lionheart lithium and renewable energy project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley. 

The approximately €40 million ($47.1 million) framework agreement will see Siemens AG supply engineering, automation, telecommunications, and building technology systems for the Vulcan’s flagship Lionheart Project.

Lionheart involves the construction of an integrated lithium and renewable energy project targeting production capacity of 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM). According to the companies, this will be enough for approximately 500,000 EV batteries per annum, with a co-product of 275GWh of renewable power and 560GWh of heat per annum for local consumers, over an estimated 30-year project life. 

Under the agreement with Siemens, the project will benefit from a suite of digitalisation and automation technologies. 

This includes advanced instrumentation, distributed control systems, digital twin technology, industrial network, IT security and analytics that will enable integrated operations from resource extraction to final production. The agreement will also provide smart infrastructure solutions from across Siemens’ buildings portfolio.

Commenting in a release was Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG: “As both a strategic investor and a key technology partner, we are helping Vulcan Energy establish Europe’s first major sustainable source of lithium.”

“With our technology – from advanced automation and digitalization to smart building solutions – we help to ramp-up production faster. This is essential to create a local lithium supply for our energy transition and a more competitive, resilient and sustainable European industry. It is a powerful example of strengthening growth and competitiveness in line with the Made for Germany initiative.”

Said Cris Moreno, Vulcan’s Managing Director and CEO: “The signing of this framework agreement with Siemens AG builds on our established partnership with the broader Siemens group which shares Vulcan’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. 

"We are pleased to be working alongside Siemens who have a vast local presence and history working in the broader region, and bring decades of experience in delivering engineering, automation, telecommunications, and digital technology systems to similar types of industrial projects.

"With construction under way, the stage is set for Vulcan and our key partners to deliver our flagship Lionheart Project, which will deliver Europe’s first fully domestic and sustainable lithium supply chain."

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According to Siemens, the partnership’s integrated approach will enable Vulcan to operate the multi-site project in the Upper Rhine Valley and Frankfurt region, with Siemens technology providing the industrial and building automation capabilities needed. 

The company also says the partnership is in line with the EU's ambition to increase resource independence and strengthen the e-mobility supply chain, with the project classified as a Strategic Project under the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act. 

Siemens has also played a key role in the financing of Lionheart. 

In early December 2025, the company announced it had secured a €2.2 billion ($2.6 billion) financing package to fully fund the construction and development of phase one of the project. 

When the transaction closes, said Vulcan at the time, Siemens Financial Services (SFS) will become a minority investor and part of a strategic investor consortium that includes HOCHTIEF and Demea Sustainable Investment. SFS also introduced the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), an international financing partner, into the Lionheart debt consortium.  

The companies have also signed a memorandum of understanding, making Siemens a preferred supplier of automation and digitalisation technology for Vulcan Energy until 2035. Vulcan’s preference for Siemens will extend beyond Lionheart to include future phases of development.