Technology & Company
Evolution Timeline
From a water treatment startup in Alberta to a fully integrated lithium technology platform — over a decade of continuous innovation in Direct Lithium Extraction.
PurLucid Treatment Solutions Founded
Dr. Preston McEachern forms PurLucid Treatment Solutions in Alberta, Canada. The company develops advanced water treatment technologies for oil sands produced water, deploying early systems with Canadian Natural Resources and entering engineering design phases with Pengrowth, Connacher, OSUM, and other producers.
First Lithium Recovery Molecular Sieve Developed
Dr. McEachern develops the first lithium recovery molecular sieve at the University of Alberta Innovation Center for Engineering. The manganese-based material demonstrates high lithium selectivity, marking the genesis of what would become Empower's Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) platform.
Alberta Innovates Funding & First Facility Opens
Funding received from Alberta Innovates to advance the filtration platform. The company opens its first facility for treatment of oil sands produced water and begins adapting filtration systems for lithium recovery, initiating early extraction testing on boiler blowdown concentrates.
$14 Million Funding Raise
PurLucid raises $14 million in funding, including $8.2 million in federal and provincial support through NSERC — enabling significant expansion of research and pilot facilities.
First Lithium Recovery Patent Filed
Dr. McEachern files his first lithium recovery patent, using an expanded bed design optimized for high-salinity produced water.
AquaMin LLC Formed in the United States
Dr. McEachern forms AquaMin LLC to advance lithium extraction technologies in the U.S. and begins consulting with Berkshire Hathaway Energy Renewables (BHE Renewables) on lithium recovery from geothermal brines.
LiMin Gen 1 Titanium Sieve Developed
AquaMin develops LiMin Gen 1, a titanium-based molecular sieve created at the University of Calgary, replacing earlier manganese materials due to concerns around fouling, durability, and toxicity.
Salton Sea Field Pilot with BHE Renewables
AquaMin conducts extensive bench-scale testing on brines from around the world and develops a field pilot with BHE Renewables at the Salton Sea, demonstrating lithium recovery from geothermal brines at temperatures near 110°C with promising cycle life and selectivity.
AquaMin Merges with LiEP to Form Conductive Energy
AquaMin merges with LiEP in Calgary, combining lithium extraction materials science with process engineering and pilot operations. The newly formed Conductive Energy secures contracts with BHE Renewables to advance a pre-commercial lithium extraction demonstration facility at the Salton Sea.
TotalEnergies Global DLE Testing Agreement
Conductive Energy signs agreements with TotalEnergies to perform DLE testing on brines from multiple global assets. Bench-scale trials are completed successfully at Total's research center in France.
BHE Renewables 400 tpa Facility Commissioned
The BHE Renewables pre-commercial 400 tpa lithium facility is commissioned at the Salton Sea utilizing Conductive Energy's Gen 3 DLE technology.
TotalEnergies Texas DLE Pilot Deployed
Conductive deploys a 40 gpm DLE pilot system using its Gen 4 technology at a TotalEnergies site in Texas to process produced water from the Barnett shale.
Texas Field Pilot Successfully Completed
Conductive Energy completes its Texas field pilot with TotalEnergies, validating Gen 4 DLE technology performance across oilfield produced water conditions.
U.S. Lithium Resource Evaluation Initiated
The company begins evaluating lithium resource opportunities in the United States while continuing to advance its lithium carbonate conversion capabilities.
Merger Discussions with DME Energy Resources
Negotiations begin between Conductive Energy and DME Energy Resources regarding a potential partnership and U.S. lithium asset development.
Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate Produced at Bench Scale
Conductive successfully produces battery-grade lithium carbonate at bench scale using brines sourced from Chile, demonstrating end-to-end extraction and conversion capability.
CleanTech Lithium Contract Signed
A contract is signed with CleanTech Lithium to process Chilean DLE eluates into battery-grade lithium carbonate.
Chicago Pilot Facility Commissioned
Conductive commissions a field pilot lithium carbonate facility in Chicago and successfully produces battery-grade lithium carbonate from DLE feedstock, proving the conversion process at pilot scale.
Conductive Energy & DME Agree to Merge
Conductive Energy and DME Energy Resources agree to merge operations and consolidate engineering, manufacturing, and lithium processing activities into a new 17,000 sq ft headquarters facility in Dallas, Texas.
Merger Completed — Empower EIT Established
The merger between Conductive Energy and DME Energy Resources is completed. The combined company establishes a fully integrated lithium technology and processing platform in Dallas, with Chicago and Calgary operations relocated to Texas.
Series A Funding of $10 Million Secured
Empower receives Series A funding of $10 million, with a $6 million commitment from Joe Williams, President & Co-Founder of Keller Williams International. Mr. Williams accepts a seat on Empower's Board of Directors.
Organization Rebrands as Empower EIT
The Dallas facility nears commissioning and the organization rebrands as Empower EIT, reflecting the integration of lithium extraction, conversion, and engineering technologies developed over more than a decade.
Full Lithium Value Chain Demonstrated
Empower begins processing CleanTech Lithium eluates from Chile into battery-grade lithium carbonate, demonstrating the company's complete lithium value chain capability from extraction through final conversion.
Building the next generation of lithium infrastructure.
Empower works closely with resource owners, investors, and local stakeholders to align incentives, reduce execution risk, and support collaborative development from early testing through commercialization.
