Industrie De Nora S.p.A (Milan, Italy), through its subsidiary De Nora Permelec Ltd., and Tuleva Inc. (Houston) announce the signing of a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing the terms for the supply of a high-capacity electrolysis system intended for Tuleva’s planned lithium hydroxide monohydrate refining facility in the United States.
The agreement marks a strategic step toward the construction of one of the largest electrochemical plants in the United States for the production of lithium hydroxide, an essential material for the global rechargeable-battery supply chain.
The project fits within the broader context of increasing global lithium demand, driven by the expansion of electric mobility, energy-storage systems, and decarbonization-related technologies. In this scenario, developing local production capacity in the United States is a key element in strengthening the security of critical-raw-material supply chains and supporting the rapid growth of the battery industry.
Under the final agreement, De Nora will supply Tuleva — a U.S. company active in the sustainable production of clean-energy materials — with a complete plant comprising 2 ion-exchange membrane bipolar electrolysis systems, “CECHLO 2C 843L.” The solution is designed to ensure high standards of energy efficiency, operational reliability, environmental sustainability, and enable a circular design minimizing the dependance from toxic chemicals. It is intended for an annual production capacity of approximately 11,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate, a fundamental requirement to produce high-performance lithium-ion batteries.
De Nora’s electrolysis systems will form the core of the new Tuleva plant and will represent one of the most significant applications of electrochemical technology for lithium-hydroxide production in the United States. The use of state-of-the-art electrochemical system and a closed loop process enhances overall efficiency across the production cycle, while helping to reduce CO₂ emissions, water consumption, and environmental impact compared with traditional lithium-refining methods.
This MOU allows both companies to begin preliminary engineering activities while they finalize the definitive sale and purchase agreement, expected to be signed once Tuleva completes its ongoing financing process.
The MoU also includes the commitment to negotiate and proceed toward a definitive supply contract. The overall contract value is currently estimated at over ten million euros for the systems, subject to finalization in the definitive documentation. Completion of the supply is expected within 15 months from the signing of the definitive agreement.
Paolo Dellachà, CEO of Industrie De Nora, commented: “This agreement marks a key milestone in expanding De Nora’s presence within the fast-growing lithium sector, which is becoming increasingly central to the global energy transition. The partnership reinforces the strength of our Group’s strategy, focused on customer centricity and on the development of solutions capable of meeting the rising demand for critical raw materials, while promoting more sustainable and efficient industrial processes. The collaboration with Tuleva further strengthens our commitment to being a key player in the global battery value chain through innovative, high-performance, and long-term sustainable electrolysis systems.”
Madan Manoharan, CEO of Tuleva Inc., added: “Tuleva is proud to formalize its collaboration with De Nora for the development of a lithium refining project of global significance. The electrochemical section is a key element in achieving our goals in terms of production capacity, product quality, and operational sustainability. De Nora’s proven technological expertise is a decisive factor for the success of the project and for building a competitive and resilient production platform in the North American market.”