METALS & MINING
Industrial heat for mining. No fuel price to manage.
Reliable process heat, produced directly on site.
THE SECTOR TODAY
The world needs more minerals. Processing them takes heat.
Critical minerals demand is surging
Lithium, copper and potash are central to batteries, grids and food security, and new supply is needed fast.
Source: IEA, Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026
Heat is a large, volatile cost
Most process heat comes from burning fuel, so operating costs move with fuel markets, by pipeline or by truck.
Source: IEA
Supply chains are preparing for proof
EU rules will require a declared carbon footprint for every EV battery, and that reaches back to the materials.
Source: EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542
THE SOLUTION
GlassPoint replaces gas-fired steam with solar steam made at your field, feeding the injection network you already run. Lifting costs decline, freeing up the natural gas you previously burned for export or higher-value domestic use.
APPLICATIONS
Industrial heat for mineral processing
GlassPoint supplies process steam for suitable mineral-processing applications, including brine evaporation and crystallisation. Fit depends on the process, required temperatures and site conditions.
Potential applications
Brine evaporation and crystallisation for lithium, potash, soda ash and borates
Hot copper leaching
Refining and other process heating
Works alongside your existing equipment
Smelting, roasting and drying stay on your current equipment, unchanged
APPLICATION
Brine processing and refining steam
STEAM TEMPERATURE
Up to 550°
THERMAL STORAGE
Heat beyond daylight hours
Every application is confirmed through a site-specific assessment of configuration and operating conditions.
PROVEN AT SCALE
Over 60% of the world’s solar process steam runs on our technology.
FAQ
Common questions from mining teams
-
It depends on your heat demand, process temperatures, available land, solar resource and current fuel cost. A site assessment answers this.
-
Steam up to 450°C, which covers brine evaporation, crystallisation and most process heating. Smelting and roasting stay on your existing equipment.
-
Thermal storage carries heat delivery beyond daylight hours. Your existing boilers stay in place as backup.
-
GlassPoint finances, builds, owns and operates the plant. You buy the heat at a fixed price over a 20-year term.
-
It runs in parallel with your existing boilers and feeds the same steam network, so your process doesn’t change.
Download the Metals & Mining one-pager
Get an overview of the applications, commercial model and project details.