UK-Mined Lithium Passes Battery Test as Nations Push to Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chains

Cornish Lithium says lithium hydroxide produced and refined in Cornwall performed in line with, and in some areas better than, established commercial materials.

Cornish Lithium has successfully demonstrated the use of lithium mined and refined in the UK to manufacture lithium-ion battery cells. The milestone comes as the UK, United States and other countries work to strengthen domestic and allied supply chains for batteries and other critical technologies.

The company produced battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate, or LHM, from ore mined at its Trelavour Lithium Project in Cornwall. The material was processed at Cornish Lithium’s Demonstration Plant using the company’s proprietary LiStract technology.

Cornish Lithium then supplied about two kilograms of the material to the Centre for Process Innovation, or CPI. The independent UK technology and innovation organization used it to manufacture and test lithium-ion coin cell batteries.

According to the companies, the cells performed in line with comparable batteries made with commercially available lithium hydroxide. In some areas, they exceeded the performance of those cells. The results provide independent validation of both the material and Cornish Lithium’s refining process.

Batteries Become a Supply Chain Priority

The demonstration has significance beyond the individual battery cells. Lithium and other battery materials have become part of a broader effort to build more secure supply chains for advanced technology.

China currently holds a major position in battery materials processing and manufacturing. The International Energy Agency reports that China refined almost 65% of the world’s lithium in 2023. It also produces about 85% of cathode active materials and more than 90% of anode active materials.

That concentration has helped drive efforts in the United States, UK and other countries to develop domestic capacity and diversify sourcing. In August, the U.S. Department of Energy announced $500 million for seven projects covering critical mineral processing, battery manufacturing and recycling. The program aims to expand U.S. capacity and reduce dependence on foreign sources.

The UK is pursuing a similar strategy. Its Critical Minerals Strategy calls for at least 10% of annual critical mineral demand to come from domestic production by 2035. The government also targets domestic production of at least 50,000 tonnes of lithium or lithium carbonate equivalent. In addition, it aims to limit dependence on any single country.

The UK and United States also signed a critical minerals agreement in February 2026. The partnership specifically addresses raw and processed minerals needed by the commercial and defense industries of both countries.

For the drone industry, the issue is particularly relevant. Batteries are not simply a source of power. Their materials and manufacturing origins are increasingly part of the larger discussion around trusted supply chains for commercial and defense technologies.

From UK Ore to a Working Battery

The Cornish Lithium test demonstrates a domestic path that extends beyond simply extracting lithium. The company mined the ore, refined it into battery-grade material in the UK, and then supplied that material for independent cell manufacturing and testing.

Jamie Airnes, CEO of Cornish Lithium, said:

“Our team at Trelavour has undertaken a significant amount of work developing and optimising our Demonstration Plant to produce a high-quality lithium hydroxide that meets the demanding specifications of the battery industry.

“The successful battery testing undertaken with CPI provides valuable real-world validation of both our lithium hydroxide product and our proprietary technology. This places Cornish Lithium in a strong position as we continue to advance the development of our Trelavour Lithium Project and engage with potential customers and offtake partners.

“This work also reinforces our decision to invest in the Demonstration Plant and validates the effectiveness of a process that has been extensively tested and refined over several years. The technology enables us to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide from domestic resources and supports our ambition to establish a secure and sustainable lithium supply chain to support the UK’s growing battery manufacturing sector.”

UK Minister for Reindustrialisation Blair McDougall said the result demonstrates the potential to mine, refine and use critical minerals domestically.

“This is a really encouraging milestone for Cornish Lithium and shows what’s possible when British innovation and expertise are put to work. It shows we can mine, refine and use critical minerals here in Britain to support the industries of the future.

“Cornwall has a proud industrial heritage, and companies like Cornish Lithium are helping write its next chapter. Through our Critical Minerals Strategy, we’re backing businesses like this to grow, invest and help build the supply chains we need for the years ahead.”

Independent Testing Provides the Next Step

CPI CEO Frank Millar said proving the performance of domestically sourced materials is an important part of creating a viable supply chain.

“Building a resilient UK battery supply chain depends on both securing domestic sources of critical materials and demonstrating that those materials can deliver the performance industry needs. CPI’s role is to enable companies to be able to address these system challenges and our work with Cornish Lithium is a great example of a successful collaboration.

“Our team has manufactured and tested battery cells using lithium hydroxide produced from UK-mined material, demonstrating performance in line with, and in some areas exceeding, that of established commercial materials.”

CPI said independent testing can help build confidence in new materials and speed their path toward commercial use. The organization works with industry, academia and government to help companies develop and scale new technologies.

For Cornish Lithium, the coin cells are a relatively small demonstration with potentially larger implications. The test does not establish commercial-scale battery production. It does show that lithium mined and refined in the UK can meet the performance requirements needed for battery manufacturing.

As governments seek alternatives to highly concentrated critical-mineral supply chains, that distinction matters. Securing lithium resources is only one part of the challenge. Those resources must also be refined into battery-grade materials and demonstrate that they can perform competitively in finished cells. Cornish Lithium’s latest results move that process one step further.