TECHNOLOGY

Enertopia goes solar for mining

Lithium extraction technology group Enertopia has obtained a solar energy patent that it said could improve environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues of mining and offer the industry a novel way to use its waste heat.

 Enertopia's Clayton Valley property in Nevada, US

Enertopia's Clayton Valley property in Nevada, US

The British Columbia, Canada-headquartered company now has rights to patent 6,024,086 from the US Patent and Trademark Office for a solar energy collector with oval absorption tubes. It did not provide any further technical details. 

The company said its next steps in the new year will be to continue its ongoing review while also testing additional technologies to help make mining a more ESG-friendly industry.

Enertopia has retained the inventor, Al Rich, to be a consultant to the company. Once new patented technology is issued, the two will form a joint venture.

"The company expects to announce additional patented and patent pending technologies in 2021 based on our due diligence and own testing research," it said, adding it will also realise renewed activity at its Clayton Valley lithium project in Nevada, where it holds 160 acres of claims.

The group confirmed in October it had inked an NDA related to its lithium mining pilot plant in Nevada.

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