T5 Smackover Partners has announced progress on a multi-resource clean energy and critical minerals project in the East Texas Smackover Formation.
T5 Smackover Partners – Franklin County Geothermal, Critical Minerals, and Lithium Well (PRNewsfoto/T5 Smackover Partners)
The project is primarily focused on the domestic production of lithium and other strategic minerals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, positioning it as part of the broader EV supply chain. In addition, the development integrates onsite energy generation, mobile energy storage, and ultra-fast EV charging infrastructure as downstream applications of those resources.
Originally permitted as a geothermal well, T5’s initial development exceeded temperature expectations, validating the formation’s ability to support scalable, baseload geothermal power. Leveraging this resource, T5 plans to deploy modular Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) turbines designed for rapid deployment and shortened power-generation timelines.
This onsite energy capability is intended to support both mineral processing operations and energy-intensive applications such as EV charging.
As part of the project’s EV-related infrastructure plans, T5 intends to deploy ultra-fast EV charging along the I-30 corridor. The charging systems are designed to support passenger EV charging on the order of minutes and heavy-duty electric truck charging within standard rest or loading windows. These charging installations are planned as an on-site use of locally generated and stored energy rather than as a standalone charging network.
The company also plans to deploy up to 75 to 100 megawatts of mobile, dispatchable power that can be redeployed to support EV charging operations, emergency response, disaster recovery, and broader grid resiliency needs.
In parallel with its energy development, T5 has identified multiple zones within the Smackover Formation containing high lithium concentrations. The company also reports the presence of other critical minerals, including bromine, potassium, and strontium. Lithium produced from the project is intended for use in EV battery manufacturing and other electrification applications.
Based on current development plans, T5 expects its initial Franklin, Titus, and Hopkins County project to produce approximately 35,000 to 50,000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent per year once fully developed. The company’s modular, hub-and-spoke approach is designed to enable phased deployment, allowing mineral production and supporting energy infrastructure to scale incrementally rather than relying on large, centralized facilities with extended permitting and construction timelines.
T5 is deploying a modular Direct Lithium Extraction strategy and expects to announce a DLE technology partner in the near future. Initial lithium production is anticipated to begin in 2026, with additional capacity added into early 2027.
T5 Smackover Partners also plans to expand its development across additional areas of the East Texas Smackover Formation, creating a platform intended to support domestic EV battery material supply while enabling on-site energy applications such as high-power EV charging.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News