The Story Behind Building the US's Biggest Lithium Mine

ABB partners with Lithium Americas to develop the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada, which is set to be the largest lithium mine in the United States.

The collaboration is viewed as a key step for Lithium Americas in developing the mine, which aims to be a benchmark for sustainable mining practices.

The Thacker Pass project represents a major test case for the future of environmentally conscious mining.

By leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovative approaches, the project seeks to minimise its environmental footprint while maximising efficiency and productivity. This is particularly important in what is considered a "hard-to-abate" industry.

Site-wide electrification and power management

The collaboration sees ABB manage the complete electrical system, from the initial design to the final implementation.

This includes the electrification of the entire site, the power management systems and the control infrastructure.

All systems are connected to ABB's digital platforms, providing real-time data and analytics to optimise performance and ensure operational stability.

A blueprint for sustainable mining

The project is designed to be a model for the global mining industry, demonstrating that it is possible to extract essential resources in a way that is both economically viable and environmentally responsible.

The use of advanced automation and digitalisation is key to achieving this goal, as it allows for greater precision and control over all aspects of the mining process.

The decarbonisation potential at Thacker Pass

A key objective of the Thacker Pass project is to achieve carbon-neutral production.