ABB: Electrifying Lithium Mining at Nevada's Thacker Pass

ABB has been chosen by Lithium Americas as its electrification partner for the Thacker Pass mining project in Nevada, the site of North America's largest known lithium resource.

The collaboration will see ABB implement a wide-ranging suite of electrification and automation technology to power the new mine.

The Thacker Pass project is a major undertaking aiming to meet the increasing demand for lithium, driven by the growth in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Lithium Americas expects the facility to produce 40,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate annually.

This output would be sufficient to supply batteries for approximately 800,000 electric vehicles per year, marking a considerable step in establishing a domestic lithium supply chain.

The project's progress will be closely watched by the mining industry, which is often considered a 'hard-to-abate' sector due to the challenges of implementing sustainable practices. If successful, Thacker Pass could provide a framework for future sustainable mining operations.

Electrification and digital integration

ABB's role involves providing a comprehensive range of its technologies to power the site. This includes switchgear, motor control centres, variable speed drives and auxiliary power distribution packages.

A site-wide power management system will also be installed. These components are set to be integrated within specialised electrical buildings, which are designed for deployment in remote and demanding field environments.

Working alongside Lithium Americas and its engineering, procurement and construction management partner Bechtel, ABB will help deliver the infrastructure across the project's entire lifecycle.

Furthermore, all systems will be connected to ABB's digital platforms. This integration will enable the monitoring of energy consumption, operational productivity and the health of the assets, ensuring the mine begins operations with efficiency and safety protocols already embedded.

A domestic lithium supply chain

The development of Thacker Pass is a key part of wider efforts to create a stable and robust lithium supply chain within North America.

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

Richard adds: "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 project aims to set a new standard by incorporating advanced sustainability and efficiency measures from its inception, rather than retrofitting these systems at a later stage.

This approach is intended to maximise the operational effectiveness and environmental performance of the facility from day one.

A blueprint for sustainable mining

The collaboration aligns with ABB's eMine portfolio, a suite of technologies designed to support the transition to all-electric mining. By integrating electrification, automation and digital systems, the eMine approach will facilitate a move away from fossil fuels at Thacker Pass.

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".

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

ABB's scope of work covers full project management and engineered solutions, from the initial concept to deployment. The company will deliver modular electrical buildings that house its low and medium-voltage technologies alongside digital power management systems.

These compact and durable systems are specifically engineered for reliability and performance in remote locations where maintenance access might be limited.

The electrification strategy is designed to help lower carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining high levels of productivity, addressing the dual pressures mining companies face to scale production and improve their environmental footprint.