Schlumberger New Energy and Panasonic Energy of North America Announce Strategic Collaboration on New Battery-Grade Lithium Production Process
10.6.2021 14:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Schlumberger New Energy and Panasonic Energy of North America, a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, announced today that they have entered into a collaboration agreement for the validation and optimization of the innovative and sustainable lithium extraction and production process to be used by Schlumberger New Energy at its Neolith Energy pilot plant in Nevada. This collaboration paves the way for improved lithium production solutions that will help meet the expected surge in demand for lithium as the electric vehicle (EV) market takes off worldwide.
Neolith Energy’s sustainable approach uses a differentiated direct lithium extraction (DLE) process to produce high-purity, battery-grade lithium material while reducing the production time from over a year to weeks. The unique process is in sharp contrast to conventional evaporative methods of extracting lithium, with a significantly reduced groundwater and physical footprint. Panasonic will provide their guidance to validate and optimize the lithium material for battery-grade consumption. Situated in Clayton Valley, Nevada, the pilot plant is just 200 miles from Panasonic’s large-scale advanced battery manufacturing operation, Panasonic Energy of North America, in Sparks, Nevada.
As a global technology company and leader in lithium-ion batteries, Panasonic has a proven track record in innovation and advanced products and solutions that power the automotive industry. Demand for battery-grade lithium is projected to grow exponentially over the next decade. As EVs greatly depend on lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, sustainable and efficient lithium production has become an important topic for regions, industries and technology companies, as well as battery and large automotive manufacturers. While the lithium industry is expected to attract large investments, the time-to-first-lithium-production for new development projects and regions will be critical for the industry to meet the surge in demand.
“Panasonic has a longstanding commitment to contributing to society and increasing sustainability in the supply chain as we work to produce the world’s safest, highest quality and most affordable batteries is a critical priority,” said Allan Swan, president of Panasonic Energy of North America. “We look forward to working with Schlumberger New Energy to help achieve our vision of advancing the lithium-ion battery space and accelerating to a clean energy society.”
“Panasonic is a pioneer in electric vehicle battery technology, and we are excited to collaborate with them in developing our differentiated direct lithium extraction and production process,” said Ashok Belani, executive vice president Schlumberger New Energy. “We are committed to expanding the global supply chain for advanced lithium compounds to support the forecasted surge in demand and enable new opportunities for lithium production globally.”
Neolith Energy’s objective will be to pump brine from the subsurface, extract greater than 90% of the dissolved lithium, and pump more than 85% of the brine back to the subsurface in an environmentally safe manner. In addition to maximizing the reinjection of the brine, the ultimate goal is to eliminate the need for any fresh water from an external source and reduce the environmental impact.
Together, Panasonic and Schlumberger New Energy aim to accelerate the development and implementation of an innovative lithium production process, with a commitment to economical, environmental and responsible extraction to empower the world’s transition to new energy sources.
About Schlumberger New Energy
Schlumberger is the world's leading provider of technology to the global energy industry. Schlumberger New Energy explores new avenues of growth by leveraging Schlumberger’s intellectual and business capital in emerging new energy markets, with a focus on low-carbon and carbon-neutral energy technologies. Its activities include ventures in the domains of hydrogen, lithium, carbon capture and sequestration, geothermal power and geoenergy for heating and cooling buildings.
Learn more about Schlumberger New Energy: newenergy.slb.com
About Panasonic
Panasonic Corporation is a global leader developing innovative technologies and solutions for wide-ranging applications in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B sectors. The company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018, operates 522 subsidiaries and 69 associated companies worldwide and reported consolidated net sales of 6,698.8 billion yen for the year ended March 31, 2021. Committed to pursuing new value through collaborative innovation, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for customers.
Learn more about Panasonic: https://www.panasonic.com/
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws — that is, statements about the future, not about past events. Such statements often contain words such as “expect,” “may,” “believe,” “plan,” “can,” “estimate,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “likely,” “goal,” “objective,” “potential,” “projected” and other similar words. Forward-looking statements address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain, such as projected demand growth for battery-grade lithium and EVs; forecasts or expectations regarding the development of, or anticipated benefits of, NeoLith Energy’s process and other Schlumberger New Energy initiatives; and other forecasts or expectations regarding the energy transition and global climate change. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the inability to recognize intended benefits from Schlumberger New Energy strategies, initiatives or partnerships; legislative and regulatory initiatives addressing environmental concerns, including initiatives addressing the impact of global climate change; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the companies’ public filings, including Schlumberger’s most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize (or the consequences of such a development changes), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, the parties disclaim any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210610005467/en/
Contact information
Media
Giles Powell – Director of Corporate Communication, Schlumberger Limited
Tel: +1 (713) 375-3494
communication@slb.com
Dannea DeLisser
Tel: +1 (201) 407-1216
dannea.delisser@us.panasonic.com
Investors
Ndubuisi Maduemezia – Vice President of Investor Relations, Schlumberger Limited
Joy V. Domingo – Director of Investor Relations, Schlumberger Limited
Tel: +1 (713) 375-3535
investor-relations@slb.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Wasabi Establishes AI Business in Silicon Valley, Taps Pinaki Mukherjee to Lead as Senior Vice President & General Manager10.9.2026 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
Wasabi Technologies, the hot cloud storage company, today announced the formation of a dedicated AI business, and the appointment of semiconductor and storage veteran Pinaki Mukherjee as senior vice president and general manager to lead it. Wasabi stores hundreds of petabytes of AI data for frontier model labs, generative AI startups, and neocloud compute providers worldwide. This new AI business brings dedicated strategy, partnerships and go-to-market focus for this demand as AI infrastructure matures. “Mukherjee has a track record of driving the kind of high-value partnerships that move markets, and that’s exactly what this moment requires,” said Marty Falaro, president and COO of Wasabi. “AI workloads are pushing storage demand to a scale we've never seen, and Mukherjee is the right person to build the partnerships that extend Wasabi's position as the industry's choice for cloud storage, at the exact moment inference is reshaping what that storage needs to do.” Proven leadership in
Ant Group’s AI Health App AQ Reaches 150 Million Users as It Expands AI-powered Day-to-day Health Use Cases10.9.2026 15:47:00 EEST | Press release
At the 2026 INCLUSION · Conference on the Bund in Shanghai, Zhang Junjie, Vice President of Ant Group and Head of the Health Business, announced that Ant Group’s flagship AI health app AQ has reached 150 million users, handling nearly 20 million health inquiries per day. The new milestone also means AQ has grown its user base by 50% in just 8 months, since it announced 100 million users in February 2026, reflecting strong demand in China’s AI health space. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260910921103/en/ Ant Group’s AI health app AQ provides personalized health advice based on more than 10 health indicators. Health has become an increasingly important priority among Chinese consumers. According to Accenture’s China Consumer Insights report published in November 2025, the share of Chinese consumers who considered health a priority increased from 78% in 2021 to 87% in 2025, making it the top priority among the a
AULUMU Introduces A18 Series for iPhone 18 With Aramid Fibre, Hybrid Protection and Distinctive Finishes10.9.2026 15:43:00 EEST | Press release
Technology accessories brand aulumu has introduced the A18 Series for iPhone 18, a new collection of smartphone cases designed around lightweight protection, material innovation and distinctive visual finishes. The range includes the A18 Armor Shockproof Aramid Fiber Case, two ultra-slim aramid fibre models, the Ghost Lumen Transparent Case, and the Particle Vegan Leather Case. At the centre of the collection, the A18 Armor combines 1500D aramid fibre and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) in a one-piece construction. The hybrid structure pairs the light weight and woven texture of aramid fibre with the flexibility and cushioning properties of TPU. A full-wrap design covers the phone’s edges, while reinforced corners are intended to help distribute impact from everyday drops and bumps. The case is designed to provide drop protection from heights of up to 2 metres, with a 1.36 mm raised screen edge and a 1.3 mm raised camera frame providing additional protection around key areas. The A18
BGC Group Announces its First-Ever Fully AI Brokered Institutional Trade in Listed Equity Derivatives10.9.2026 15:30:00 EEST | Press release
BGC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: BGC) (“BGC”), a leading global brokerage and financial technology company servicing financial markets, today announced it has launched Fenics AI, and that its subsidiary, Aurel BGC, has completed its first-ever fully AI brokered institutional trade in listed equity derivatives, using autonomous AI-powered systems to manage the trading workflow from price discovery through to execution. Fenics AI, BGC’s new proprietary AI trading technology, arranged this landmark transaction on September 3, 2026, in Eurex listed Swiss SMI options between two institutional accounts, including Hudson Bay Capital. This successful first AI trade follows rigorous development and testing to ensure compatibility with applicable market conventions, rules and governance. Fenics AI is expected to be made available to BGC’s clients during the fourth quarter 2026 to deliver significant efficiencies across the trade lifecycle, including price discovery, execution, trade processing, and settl
Coulson Aviation Defines the Next Chapter of Innovation With EmberWorks10.9.2026 15:03:00 EEST | Press release
Coulson Aviation is moving forward with EmberWorks, its dedicated innovation division created to turn real-world operational challenges into new capabilities for aerial firefighting, aviation, and emergency response. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260910644135/en/ Comparison imagery demonstrates how ORBIT uses airborne thermal sensing and automated processing to identify wildfire activity and generate geolocated fire intelligence. First introduced at the Aerial Fire Fighting Global Conference in Rome earlier this year, EmberWorks formalizes an approach to innovation that has existed throughout Coulson’s history. From aircraft modification and mission-system development to programs such as C-130 airtanker, Boeing 737 Fireliner, and CH-47 Chinook helicopter, Coulson has long developed solutions in response to real-world operational needs. EmberWorks builds on that history by giving this approach a dedicated str
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom