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For years, Japan set aggressive decarbonization targets, positioning itself as a climate leader despite limited domestic resources. But recent geopolitical earthquakes like the ongoing war in Ukraine, increasing...
Reports by Milo McBride, Tom Moerenhout, Diego Rivera Rivota + 1 more • May 19, 2025
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Lithium plays a critical role in the global energy transition. It is the core ingredient of lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs) and are used in stationary energy storage systems. Due to its unique properties, lithium cannot be easily substituted when high performance is required—and that is unlikely to change with technological developments in the foreseeable future. For these reasons, forecasters expect lithium demand to rise precipitously through 2030 and then remain on an upward trajectory.
Meeting this fast-growing demand will require the development of many new lithium extraction projects. Developing any type of mine is a complex endeavor that often requires considerable time. But the lithium industry faces a set of structural, economic, and environmental challenges that compounds the difficulty of scaling production. Specifically, the lithium sector is small relative to many other mining industries, and fluctuating lithium prices are making it hard to attract investment. This in combination with long lead times can make it complicated to respond to short-term demand fluctuations.
This report, part of the Critical Materials program at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA, explores the policy ecosystems supporting the development of a newer set of lithium production technologies based on direct lithium extraction (DLE), which involves the selective extraction of lithium ions from subsurface brines. If DLE technologies are scalable and mature, they could help meet lithium demand in the medium and especially the long term. In theory, DLE can be more efficient, effective, and sustainable than conventional lithium mining technologies, though more research is needed to demonstrate when and how.
The report focuses on the fiscal and regulatory mechanisms in place in the countries or regions that are developing DLE technologies, including the US, Canada, Chile, Bolivia, China, and Europe. These mechanisms have been effective in driving DLE development and deployment to date, but higher levels of support and novel policy maneuvers will be needed if governments want to continue to support efforts to scale DLE and potentially make it competitive with legacy forms of lithium production.
Other findings of the report are as follows:
The report concludes with a set of recommendations for policymakers in the countries or regions mentioned previously who wish to bolster support for DLE project development. These are followed by an appendix that maps existing DLE pilot and demonstration projects around the globe.
On April 30, 2025, the United States and Ukraine signed a long-anticipated economic partnership agreement establishing the US–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.
The critical minerals executive order signed by President Trump on March 20, 2025, aims to significantly increase domestic production of critical minerals within the United States.
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Reports by Milo McBride, Tom Moerenhout, Diego Rivera Rivota + 1 more • May 19, 2025