Exclusive: Tidal Metals sees seawater as the solution to a critical mineral shortage
Summary
The company, previously known as GreenBlu, had been working on desalination technology when it realized there was more value in the minerals that were left behind.At that time, the industry around magnesium was already sort of in shambles in the United States, he said. Sensing opportunity, in late 2023 the company pivoted to magnesium production and rebranded.The lightweight metal has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions from transportation if it can be produced with minimal pollution. Some battery companies have begun to explore using the metal to improve energy density.Magnesium today is largely produced in two ways: by cooking the mineral dolomite and by evaporating salt water, usually in giant open-air ponds, and processing what remains. Yuh wouldnt disclose details, but he said the company has tweaked an existing process to make it easier.Tidal Metals is working on a pilot plant that can produce 200 tons per year. Once the engineering on that plant is sorted, Yuh said the startup is aiming for a larger-scale facility that can produce 10,000 tons per year, possibly as early as 2026.Altogether, Tidal Metals process promises to be significantly less polluting than whats done in China, particularly if renewable electricity is used to power the heat pumps.