Highlights of the Program

2 days business program:

Learn from real-world case studies by industry leaders.

SHOWCASING INNOVATION:

Discover the latest technology and techniques from across the industry.

leaders talk:

Hear from top-level experts about how to stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.

MULTIPLE STREAMS:

A business program that is multi-disciplinary, giving you a broad view of the industry.

SMART TECHNOLOGIES:

Explore the latest smart and AI-driven solutions, and see how they can be used in your business.

roundtable discussion:

Join talks with industry peers. Share ideas, make connections, and find new partners.

Program

Day 1 :
MONDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER, 2026
08:00 - 08:50
REGISTRATION & MORNING REFRESHMENTS
08:50 - 09:00
OPENING ADDRESS
09:00 - 09:25
WHERE ARE THE EUROPEANS? GERMAN STARTUP EXPLORING ARGENTINA BRINE
Micha Zauner
Deutsche E-Metalle AG

Micha Zauner

Deutsche E-Metalle AG

  • Emphasizing the need for European entrepreneurship to strengthen supply chain independence in global lithium markets
  • Presenting an integrated non-Chinese lithium supply chain from exploration to processing supported by German initiatives
  • Advanced technologies enabling real-time resource characterization and efficient lithium extraction and conversion
  • Improving project viability by reducing costs, energy use, and processing complexity across diverse brine environments
09:25 - 09:30
Q&A SESSION ON EUROPEAN STRATEGY FOR GLOBAL LITHIUM SUPPLY CHAINS
09:30 - 09:55
DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION TAILORED TECHNOLOGIES FOR HIGHER YIELD AND PURITY
Tirtha Chatterjee
DuPont

Tirtha Chatterjee

DuPont

  • Integrated DLE process pathways combining sorbents, ion exchange, and membrane technologies
  • Divalent ion removal approaches supporting consistent high-purity lithium product output
  • Efficient dewatering steps enabling higher lithium concentration and improved sorbent productivity
  • Sequencing and data-backed design insights reducing complexity and accelerating commercialization
09:55 - 10:00
Q&A SESSION ON IMPROVING DLE YIELD PURITY AND COMMERCIAL READINESS
10:00 - 10:25
CRITICAL RAW MATERIAL POTENTIAL OF THE HEZ ENERGY MORALI GPP 1 GEOTHERMAL FIELD: THE CASE OF LITHIUM
Pınar Yanar Sözal
Hez Enerji

Pınar Yanar Sözal

Hez Enerji

  • Conducting field-scale pilot studies, evaluating lithium recovery potential from geothermal fluids
  • Comparing adsorption and enrichment methods, identifying performance across different process configurations
  • Implementing continuous-flow systems, integrating lithium recovery within reinjection line operations
  • Enhancing lithium concentration through multi-stage enrichment, optimising performance using field data insights
10:25 - 10:30
Q&A SESSION ON GEOTHERMAL LITHIUM RECOVERY AND PROCESS OPTIMISATION
10:30 - 11:00
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN EXHIBITION AREA
11:00 - 11:30
PANEL DISCUSSION ON DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION
11:30 - 11:55
SCALING DLE IN EUROPE: FROM TECHNOLOGY PROMISE TO SUPPLY CHAIN REALITY
Salvatore Pinizzotto
Xida Communications

Salvatore Pinizzotto

Xida Communications

  • Addressing system level challenges, aligning energy, water, reagents, and logistics for scalable DLE deployment
  • Identifying hidden bottlenecks, understanding barriers that delay transition from pilot to commercial operations
  • Integrating sustainability and circularity, strengthening project design for long term resilience and credibility
  • Embedding community engagement, supporting financeability and acceptance of large scale lithium supply projects
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON EUROPEAN LITHIUM PROJECT RISKS AND READINESS
12:00 - 12:25
MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY IN LITHIUM EXTRACTION AND WATER TREATMENT
Christoph Maurer
OSMO Membrane Systems

Christoph Maurer

OSMO Membrane Systems

  • Assessing water intensive lithium extraction and DLE highlighting membrane roles across processes
  • Reviewing pre treatment stages and eluate handling from adsorbers and ion exchange systems
  • Analysing process water needs including boiler feed and chemical applications within operations
  • Addressing wastewater treatment approaches aligned with regulations and operational best practices
12:25 - 12:30
Q&A SESSION ON WATER MANAGEMENT IN LITHIUM EXTRACTION PROCESSES
12:30 - 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH AND VISITING DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION EXHIBITION
13:30 - 14:00
PANEL DISCUSSION ON DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION
14:00 - 14:25
LINKING DEVELOPMENT OF ADSORBENT AND PROCESS OPTIMIZATION IN DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION
Tom Frising
Axens

Tom Frising

Axens

  • Overview of adsorption and SMB expertise applied to DLE in salar, geothermal, and oil and gas brines
  • Performance of second-generation DLE adsorbent covering capacity, selectivity, and mechanical strength
  • Scale-up strategy and pilot plant results proving feasibility, robustness, and readiness for deployment
14:25 - 14:30
Q&A SESSION ON NEXT GENERATION DLE ADSORPTION SYSTEMS
14:30 - 14:55
ORGANIC RANKINE CYCLE ADVANCES IN GEOTHERMAL AND LITHIUM EXTRACTION
Davide Toselli
Turboden

Davide Toselli

Turboden

  • Introducing Turboden and outlining the fundamentals of Organic Rankine Cycle technology
  • Exploring ORC applications in geothermal projects while considering integration opportunities with DLE
  • Presenting insights from a case study currently under development and highlighting emerging opportunities
14:55 - 15:00
Q&A SESSION ON ORC TECHNOLOGY IN GEOTHERMAL AND DLE
15:00 - 15:20
AFTERNOON COFFEE BREAK IN EXHIBITION AREA
15:20 - 15:45
CLOSING THE LOOP: ON SITE ACID AND BASE GENERATION FOR DLE VIA HYDROLYZERS
Steffen Garbe
PHLAIR

Steffen Garbe

PHLAIR

  • Addressing chemical supply challenges in DLE by reducing reliance on transported acids and bases at remote sites
  • Introducing electrochemical salt splitting to enabling on site generation of high purity acid and base streams from brine
  • Integrating modular hydrolyzer technology to transforming DLE into a closed loop and more sustainable process
  • Reducing operational costs emissions and supply chain risks while supporting scalable and greener lithium production
15:45 - 15:50
Q&A SESSION ON REDUCING COSTS AND RISKS IN DLE OPERATIONS
15:50 - 16:15
OPERATION OF AN ELECTROCHEMICAL ION PUMP FOR THE RECOVERY OF LITHIUM
Paul-Louis Wöhrlin
Fraunhofer ISE

Paul-Louis Wöhrlin

Fraunhofer ISE

  • Exploring electrochemical ion pumping enabling selective lithium extraction from complex natural brines
  • Advancing efficient lithium recovery even at low concentrations within high salinity matrices
  • Presenting the design and operation of a fully automated test system with stacked electrodes
  • Assessing the potential of geothermal brines as an economically viable alternative lithium resource
16:15 - 16:20
Q&A SESSION ON ADVANCING LITHIUM EXTRACTION USING ELECTROCHEMICAL PUMPING
16:20 - 16:45
ADVANCES IN MATERIALS AND SCALABLE REACTOR DESIGNS FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL LITHIUM EXTRACTION
Christian Heubner
Fraunhofer IKTS

Christian Heubner

Fraunhofer IKTS

  • Advancing electrochemical lithium extraction using intercalation based systems for selective recovery
  • Improving lithium selectivity through tailored host materials operating in complex aqueous environments
  • Addressing stability and capacity challenges during long term cycling in high ionic strength conditions
  • Integrating material performance with reactor design to enable scalable and industrially relevant processes
16:45 - 16:50
Q&A SESSION ON MATERIAL PERFORMANCE AND PROCESS SCALE UP CHALLENGES
16:50 - 17:15
7EX TECHNOLOGIES – LITHIUM PRODUCTION FOR AN ELECTRIFIED FUTURE
Andreas Kuhlmann
Forschungszentrum Jülich

Andreas Kuhlmann

Forschungszentrum Jülich

  • An overview of efforts to commercialize an electrochemical direct lithium extraction process
  • Key features of the technology and its potential applications across diverse industries
  • Current development status alongside future plans for scaling and broader deployment
17:15 - 17:20
Q&A SESSION ON DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGY AND SCALE UP
17:20 - 18:20
NETWORKING DRINKS RECEPTION
Day 2 :
TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER, 2026
08:00 - 08:30
MORNING REFRESHMENTS
08:30 - 08:40
OPENING ADDRESS
08:40 - 09:05
NEXT PRACTICE LEADERSHIP SECURING THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN DLE
Simon Gillibrand
Savannah Group

Simon Gillibrand

Savannah Group

  • Analysing the impact of diverse leadership teams on financial performance and shareholder value
  • Examining the role of inclusive cultures in improving safety outcomes across geothermal operations
  • Addressing workforce challenges including retirement risks and closing critical digital skills gaps
  • Bridging collaboration between oil and gas leaders and emerging startups advancing DLE innovation
09:05 - 09:10
Q&A SESSION ON FUTURE READY WORKFORCES FOR LITHIUM EXTRACTION
09:10 - 09:35
DLE’S STRATEGIC ROLE IN EUROPE’S BATTERY SUPPLY CHAIN
Oliver Heathman
Wood Mackenzie

Oliver Heathman

Wood Mackenzie

  • Discussing the strategic drivers behind building a resilient domestic lithium and battery supply chain in Europe
  • Europe’s current lithium supply landscape and identifying the range of available sourcing options
  • Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of European lithium resources while comparing them with the global supply
  • Highlighting how direct lithium extraction technologies can support Europe’s path toward lithium independence
09:35 - 09:40
Q&A SESSION ON EUROPE’S LITHIUM SUPPLY AND EXTRACTION PATHWAYS
09:40 - 10:05
SECURING DOMESTIC LITHIUM SUPPLY CHAINS UNDER THE CRITICAL RAW MATERIALS ACT
Laura Fazio Bellacchio
European Metals

Laura Fazio Bellacchio

European Metals

  • Strengthening domestic capacity for critical materials through value chain alignment between producers and offtakers
  • Supporting CRMA objectives to boosting lithium and strategic raw material production across Europe
  • Addressing permitting challenges and improving policy coherence across frameworks including water and environmental regulations
  • Enabling investment through accessible funding mechanisms to building a viable business case for domestic supply
10:05 - 10:10
Q&A SESSION ON BUILDING RESILIENT LITHIUM SUPPLY CHAINS IN EUROPE
10:10 - 10:30
MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN EXHIBITION AREA
10:30 - 10:55
CLEANER LITHIUM STRONGER ECONOMICS: CIRCULAR REFINING FROM LiCl TO BATTERY-GRADE LiOH
Luis Santillana
Lithium Ark

Luis Santillana

Lithium Ark

  • Europe’s growing need for domestic low-carbon lithium refining to strengthen battery supply chains and energy security
  • Explaining how circular LiCl to LiOH refining can lower emissions while improving cost competitiveness at an industrial scale
  • Outlining, through the Green+ Antwerp case study, how low-carbon refining platforms can support the battery transition
10:55 - 11:00
Q&A SESSION ON CIRCULAR LITHIUM REFINING FOR EUROPE’S BATTERY SUPPLY CHAINS
11:00 - 11:25
THE MARKET LIQUIDITY PROBLEM FOR LITHIUM AND DLE PROJECTS
Frank Jackel
Metals hub

Frank Jackel

Metals hub

  • Framing illiquid markets and opaque pricing structures limiting investment in critical minerals
  • Outlining financing constraints facing DLE projects despite strong operational performance
  • Defining limited spot market activity reducing price discovery and transaction confidence
  • Quantifying stronger spot markets improving pricing transparency and supporting project financing
11:25 - 11:30
Q&A SESSION ON LITHIUM PRICING AND INVESTMENT CHALLENGES
11:30 - 11:55
WHO WILL BUY YOUR LITHIUM? EUROPE’S DLE FUTURE THROUGH INDIA AND INDONESIA
Kaustubh Deshpande
iMOTO

Kaustubh Deshpande

iMOTO

  • Analysing battery technology dominance across supply chains, shaping offtake dynamics globally
  • Examining specification requirements from Asian OEMs, aligning DLE output with market demand
  • Mapping buyer expectations across India and Indonesia to define bankable offtake structures
  • Translating diplomatic momentum into commercial agreements, securing long-term supply pathways
11:55 - 12:00
Q&A SESSION ON SECURING LITHIUM OFFTAKE IN EMERGING MARKETS
12:00 - 12:25
INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT MODELS: BRIDGING CHEMISTRY INFRASTRUCTURE AND ESG
Laurent Labous
Ipsinov Consulting

Laurent Labous

Ipsinov Consulting

  • Integrating DLE chemistry with oil and gas engineering, improving scalability and project delivery
  • Strengthening ESG integration, enhancing traceability and carbon transparency for investor alignment
  • Repurposing infrastructure and leveraging local expertise, supporting delivery and sustainability outcomes
12:25 - 12:30
Q&A SESSION ON INTEGRATED MODELS FOR LITHIUM PROJECT DELIVERY
12:30 - 12:45
FEEDBACK & RAFFLE DRAW
12:45 - 13:00
CLOSING REMARKS
13:00 - 14:00
NETWORKING LUNCH

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