Project Details
Developer
Location
Imperial County, California, USA
Capacity
650 MW-electric
COD
Expected COD: 2026
About This Project
Executive Overview
The Hell's Kitchen Critical Minerals and Power Project is a large-scale integrated geothermal power and direct lithium extraction facility under development in Imperial County, California, developed by Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) on 4,500 acres within the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area. The $1.8 billion project targets an initial Stage 1 of 50 MW of geothermal baseload power and 25,000 metric tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate per year, with first power generation and lithium production to follow Stage 1 construction. Full build-out is planned at up to 650 MW of geothermal capacity and approximately 100,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent annually across multiple blocks. In March 2026, CTR entered into a definitive merger agreement with Plum Acquisition Corp. IV (Nasdaq: PLMK), valuing CTR at $4.7 billion, with proceeds expected to fund Stage 1 construction once the transaction closes in the second half of 2026. The project received FAST-41 Covered Project designation from the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, which mandates coordinated federal permitting timelines, and a Superior Court ruling in January 2025 dismissed a legal challenge, clearing the path to construction.
How It Works & Differentiation
The project uses a closed-loop geothermal process in which geothermal brine is drawn from depth, flashed to steam for power generation in single-flash steam turbines, and simultaneously processed through an ion exchange technique to recover dissolved lithium before the brine is reinjected — all without open-pit mining, evaporation ponds, or landfill waste. This integrated approach produces both baseload renewable electricity and battery-grade lithium from the same brine stream at the same facility, which distinguishes it from standalone geothermal plants and conventional hard-rock or brine lithium operations. The Salton Sea geothermal brine contains some of the highest lithium concentrations of any known resource, with the region's total estimated resource exceeding 3,400 kilotons — sufficient for approximately 375 million EV battery packs. Baker Hughes has joined as a technical partner, and General Motors has invested as a strategic partner for lithium offtake.
Commercialization & Traction
General Motors is a confirmed strategic investor and lithium offtaker. The project has secured FAST-41 status, providing enforceable federal permitting timelines and inter-agency coordination that materially de-risk the regulatory pathway relative to conventional permitting. CTR's broader subsidiary structure — American Critical Resources for lithium and American Data Power for 600 MW of geothermal capacity aimed at data centre supply — reflects an intent to commercialise the resource across multiple end markets. The State of California allocated $10 million in March 2025 to support Lithium Valley planning and infrastructure, providing additional public sector backing for the broader regional development.
Scalability & Strategic Context
Hell's Kitchen is structured in six 100 MW blocks, with Stage 1 functioning as the proof-of-concept for the full 650 MW / 100,000 tonne per year platform. Imperial County is already the second-largest geothermal energy producer in the United States, with established transmission infrastructure and permitting precedent. The project's FAST-41 designation and modular block structure are designed to allow successive phases to advance more rapidly once Stage 1 achieves commercial operation. Given the combination of baseload renewable power and domestic critical mineral supply — both identified as federal priorities — Hell's Kitchen occupies a strategically distinct position relative to single-output energy or mining projects.
Project Timeline
Further Reading
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Baker Hughes joins giant California geothermal power project
Baker Hughes is partnering with Controlled Thermal Resources to help develop one of the world's largest geothermal power projects in California, aiming to supply clean energy to data centers and support the growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence technologies.
California’s lithium rush for EV batteries could save the Salton Sea — or make it worse
A judge has cleared the way for the massive Hell’s Kitchen lithium mining project at the Salton Sea, dismissing a lawsuit from environmental and community groups who argued the project could harm water and air quality, thus allowing construction to proceed despite ongoing concerns about environmental impacts and community input.
IID OKs Hell’s Kitchen Power Purchase Amendments, Budget
The article reports that the Imperial Irrigation District Board approved amendments to its power purchase agreement with Hell’s Kitchen PowerCo 1 LLC, including revised timelines, financial terms, and a $5 million penalty for delays, as well as adopting a balanced two-year budget for 2025-2026 totaling $1.1 billion.
CTR’s Hell’s Kitchen Project Selected as a FAST-41 Covered Project, Marking a Major Step Toward Domestic Critical Minerals and Reliable Power Security
Controlled Thermal Resources' Hell’s Kitchen Project has been designated as a FAST-41 Covered Project by the federal government, marking a significant step toward strengthening U.S. critical minerals supply and reliable renewable power security.
CTR Commences Drill Program at Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power Project
Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) has begun drilling at its Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power project in Imperial, California, marking the start of a major geothermal and lithium extraction facility at the Salton Sea that aims to deliver renewable power and lithium hydroxide in the coming years.
Hell's Kitchen PowerCo1 and Lithium Co 1 Project
The Hell's Kitchen PowerCo1 and Lithium Co 1 Project in Imperial County, California proposes the development of a geothermal power plant producing up to 49.9 MW of green energy and mineral extraction facilities for lithium and other products, with both facilities sharing infrastructure and operated by subsidiaries of Controlled Thermal Resources (US) Inc..
Project spotlight: top seven power plants set to come online in 2026
The article highlights the top seven most significant power plants—spanning wind, solar, coal, nuclear, hydro, and geothermal—that are set to come online globally in 2026, showcasing major projects that reflect evolving trends in the global energy landscape.
Hells Kitchen Integrated Lithium and Power Project
The Hell’s Kitchen Integrated Lithium and Power Project in Imperial Valley, California, recovers lithium from geothermal brines and produces battery-grade lithium products and renewable geothermal power in a single location to support the US battery supply chain using sustainable methods.
CTR: Full Steam Ahead in 2023
Hell's Kitchen geothermal plant
The Hell's Kitchen geothermal plant is a pre-construction geothermal power project in the Salton Sea, California, planned to generate up to 600 MW of electricity and supply power to U.S. data centers.
Controlled Thermal Resources secures geothermal PPA in the Imperial Valley, California
Controlled Thermal Resources and Imperial Irrigation District have signed a 25-year power purchase agreement for 40 MW of geothermal energy from CTR's planned Hell’s Kitchen facility at the Salton Sea in California, supporting renewable energy goals and regional economic development.
Controlled Thermal Resources and Plum Acquisition Corp. IV Announce Definitive Business Combination Agreement to Advance US Critical Minerals and Energy
C-THERM Technologies: Thermal Conductivity Measurement Solutions
C Thermal (CTR) develops integrated U.S.-based facilities that produce renewable geothermal energy and extract, refine, and supply critical minerals like lithium for batteries, supporting energy independence and secure supply chains for advanced manufacturing and technology industries.