ABB: How a Strong US Lithium Supply Chain Could Benefit EVs

Lithium Americas has chosen ABB as its electrification partner for the Thacker Pass mining project in Nevada, which is located above North America's largest known measured and indicated lithium resource.

The collaboration will involve ABB delivering a complete range of electrification infrastructure to support the mine, which is projected to yield 40,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate annually – enough to supply batteries for roughly 800,000 EVs.

ABB's participation in the project will be watched closely by the wider sector. Mining is frequently classified as a 'hard-to-abate' industry, where implementing electrification and sustainability proves more challenging than in other sectors.

If the Thacker Pass project succeeds in achieving meaningful sustainability it will act as a benchmark for future sites.

Electrifying a traditionally heavy industry

At Thacker Pass, ABB will supply an extensive array of its newest-generation technologies including switchgear, motor control centres, variable speed drives, auxiliary power distribution packages and a site-wide power management system.

These elements will then be incorporated within optimised electrical buildings engineered for field deployment in remote, challenging environments.

The company will collaborate with Lithium Americas and their engineering, procurement and construction management partner Bechtel to deliver the infrastructure throughout the complete project lifecycle.

All systems will also be connected with ABB's digital platforms to enable monitoring of energy use, asset health and operational productivity.

Building a robust lithium supply chain in North America

The project represents part of initiatives to establish a solid domestic lithium supply chain as demand for electric vehicles and energy storage systems continues to grow.

"This collaboration with ABB marks an important milestone in our journey to safely and responsibly produce lithium from Thacker Pass," says Richard Gerspacher, EVP Capital Projects at Lithium Americas.

"ABB's technology and expertise will support our efforts to deliver lithium for the US market, creating economic benefits for American workers, companies and communities."

The facility aims to begin operations with established efficiency, safety and sustainability protocols already in place, rather than retrofitting these systems later.

Establishing a blueprint for electrified lithium mining

Björn Jonsson, Global Business Line Manager for Mining & Materials at ABB Process Industries, sees the project as "a blueprint for the future of mining – electrically and digitally optimised".

"We're proud to support Lithium Americas in building a resilient lithium supply chain for energy independence," he adds.

The collaboration aligns with ABB's eMine portfolio, which will support the transition to all-electric mining operations at Thacker Pass through its integrated electrification, automation and digital systems.

The technology that ABB will deploy at Thacker Pass

ABB's scope encompasses full project management and engineered solutions from concept through to deployment readiness.

The company will deliver specialised electrical power distribution and digital power management systems housed in modular electrical buildings.

These compact systems integrate ABB's low and medium voltage technologies with digital power management capabilities designed to enhance safety, reliability and uptime.

The technologies are engineered specifically for durability and performance in remote operational environments where maintenance access may be limited.

Can Thacker Pass be sustainable?

The electrification approach is designed to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions whilst maintaining productivity levels at the facility.

ABB's technologies aim to improve energy efficiency and support mining companies in meeting sustainability targets without compromising operational output.

The partnership announcement comes as mining companies face increasing pressure to demonstrate progress on emissions reduction whilst scaling production to meet the growing demand for battery materials.

Thacker Pass represents a test case for whether large-scale lithium operations can integrate advanced electrification systems from the outset rather than through gradual retrofitting of existing infrastructure.