Trend Technology 2: lithium moves from evaporation ponds to engineered direct extraction
Summary
The report's second selected technology replaces months-long solar evaporation of brine with engineered systems that process the same liquid directly, recovering lithium in hours and reinjecting the depleted water, which changes both the speed and the geography of supply.
Classification
Main topicEnergy & Climate Tech
Region menusGlobal
Impactscope:global
Time horizon4-10 years (2026-07-26)
Last updated2026-07-29 04:49:52
Evidence 2
- Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2026 World Economic Forum (in collaboration with Frontiers) page=9;section=2 Direct lithium extraction 2026-06 accessed 2026-07-26
- Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2026 World Economic Forum (in collaboration with Frontiers) page=9;section=2 Direct lithium extraction 2026-06 accessed 2026-07-26
Observed signals 2
Part of issues 2
- IssueRefining ecosystems, sorbent validation and mineral regulation are missing where the new hubs would sit1 trends · 1 signals
- IssueTechnology decisions move to municipal, hospital and regional actors3 trends · 1 signals
Relation types: constitutes · supports
Public id: fm-544243a3e7f7