Lilac Solutions is an Oakland-based lithium extraction technology company that has developed a patented ion exchange process to increase lithium recovery from brine resources. Their technology eliminates the need for evaporation ponds, reduces freshwater usage by 10x, and enables commercial lithium production from domestic resources like the Great Salt Lake in Utah. To date, Lilac has raised $150 million from investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Lowercarbon Capital.

Lilac was founded in 2016 by CEO Dave Snydacker, an expert in lithium extraction with a PhD in Materials Science from Northwestern University. The company has proven its technology through 500,000+ hours of testing and has 10+ global projects under development across the U.S., South America, and Europe. In 2020, Lilac successfully completed a pilot plant in Argentina in partnership with Lake Resources.

Lilac is currently focused on launching its first U.S. project to produce 3,000 tonnes of lithium annually by 2026 from the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The company aims to scale this project to 20,000 tonnes per year in the future to support the growing electric vehicle supply chain. One key challenge Lilac faces is the lengthy permitting process required for new lithium brine projects in the United States.

For mission-driven engineers and operators, Lilac offers the opportunity to apply their skills toward solving the critical challenge of scaling sustainable lithium production to enable the transition to renewable energy. Employees will get to work on innovative technology at a well-funded company that is beginning to scale commercially.