The Critical Raw Materials Act is the EU’s move to stop depending on third countries for the inputs its energy transition runs on. It sets targets for how much of the strategic raw material chain the bloc should extract, process and recycle at home, widens access to financing, and ties the label to social and environmental standards. A project earns “strategic” status when the European Commission judges it capable of moving those numbers.
Two geothermal lithium developments made the list: Vulcan Energy Resources in Germany, and the joint project between Eramet and Électricité de Strasbourg in France. Both recover lithium from geothermal brine, so the same well yields heat and battery material. In practice, the designation means shorter and prioritized administrative timelines, plus a stronger position when applying for public funding.
