Grid stability, electric mobility, and the integration of renewable energy all hinge on reliable energy storage. In the Gulf, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, this imperative is shaping national strategies that focus on critical mineral sourcing and long-term supply security. Lithium is especially important to the Gulf's ambitions to localize energy supply chains and scale clean tech. Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to source 50% of its electricity from renewables and electrify 30% of Riyadh's passenger vehicles by 2030.
To meet rising demand for battery-grade lithium, the region is exploring alternatives to conventional mining, including tapping into its oil legacy. Every barrel of oil extracted produces several barrels of highly saline "produced water." Globally accounting for over 217 million barrels per day in 2024, this byproduct is typically seen as industrial waste. However, it often contains trace amounts of valuable lithium.
By late 2024, researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) developed a membrane-based Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) process capable of recovering over 90% of lithium from brines with concentrations as low as 20 ppm. This offers a potential pathway for a cleaner, localized lithium supply that uses existing oil infrastructure.
Read the full story here:
https://www.theenergypioneer.com/post/the-gulf-s-energy-transition-2025-review-part-2