MELBOURNE, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Australia-listed Vulcan

Energy is in talks with lithium companies to licence

its filtration technology, tapping a new revenue source as the

firm commercialises its renewable-energy project in Germany, the

CEO said on Tuesday.

Vulcan began producing lithium hydroxide earlier this month

from its Rhine Valley operations using adsorption direct lithium

extraction (A-DLE) - harnessing geothermal heat to extract

lithium from brine deposits.

DLE is expected to reshape the lithium market by speeding

the production process of the metal used in EV batteries and

electronics to hours or days, compared with months or longer.

Vulcan has joined the ranks of companies like Eramet

, and Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) aiming to make the technology

commonplace.

"We are talking to all sorts, including developers and

producers. If you have a four-to-five-year window to get into

production, you need to act now," CEO Cris Moreno told Reuters.

"There's also producers out there that are trying to get an

extra 1-2% of efficiency."

Moreno said such efficiency gains represent a lot of money

for large producers.

Vulcan is in the final stage of finalising a 1.4 billion

euro ($1.47 billion) funding package to build a commercial

facility in Landau that is set to start production in 2027. Its

lithium hydroxide is going to customers like Stellantis ( STLA )

for quality testing in the meantime.

The lithium and energy producer expects to finalise

commitment letters on the 40% debt portion of its funding by

Christmas and secure strategic equity by the first quarter of

next year.

It was awarded 100 million euros in funding from Germany

this month for the project, whose geothermal heat will help

decarbonise the Landau district.

($1 = 0.9554 euros)