Our Expert Team
We build the future of battery technology every day with intelligence, vision, and decisiveness. We combine in-depth technical expertise with practical know-how, so that you, as a partner or customer, can always count on responsible, effective solutions.
Peter Ehren
Process and Lithium Expert
Peter Ehren is an independent Lithium Consultant. He has over 2 decades of experience in the industry. His interest in the lithium business started during his master's thesis at the Technical University of Delft where he investigated for BHP Minerals the recovery of lithium from geothermal brine (Salton Sea), applying a Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology.
After his thesis he worked for SQM as a process engineer, and R&D manager till 2007. Since 2007, he started to work as an independent consultant in lithium, boron and potassium industry. He is a world expert in solar evaporation systems, phase chemistry and process developments. Additionally, his experiences covers product applications, OPEX and CAPEX estimation, process simulations, engineering, R&D and product development.
Peter has worked in most lithium basins and production facilities worldwide. He is one of the few consultants in the industry who has built projects from lab scale all the way through to industrial production. During this period, he brought 4 projects to DFS level. (Orocobre -AlKem , Ioneer, Millennium Lithium, and Lithium Power International). He has visited and evaluated many lithium brine and minerals operations in the entire world. He has achieved the status of being a Chartered Professional (AusIMM) and is recognized as a Qualified Person for NI-43-101 and JORC.
Key Learnings are:
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One of the major risk is the selection of the process equipment.
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Team work with key professionals shortens project development and reduces risk.
Macarena González
Environmental Expert
Macarena is an Industrial Civil Engineer with a major in Environmental Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. She has been working since 2000 in projects related with brine extraction and knows in detail all aspects involved to develop a sustainable lithium project.
She was the first environmental engineer working for SQM, and defined the basis for actual EIS for the brine extraction plan and many over the 60 production unit operations. After SQM she dedicated her career as a consultant for industrial projects in the High Andes (Altiplano), covering several Salars such as Salar de Atacama, Ascotán, Isla, Olaroz and Maricunga.
Rodrigo Rivas
Process and Operational Expert
Rodrigo Rivas is a Metallurgical Engineer from the University of Concepción, with more than 20 years of experience in leading operations, processes, projects and quality of lithium chemical plants, and in-depth knowledge of lithium carbonate and hydroxide processes.
From 1998 to 2015, he worked in Operations at the Salar del Carmen plant at SQM, executing various operational projects, including the start-up and production of battery-grade lithium carbonate and hydroxide. From 2016 to 2019, he worked in Operations at Sales de Jujuy, Olaroz, where he collaborated in the start-up of the plant and subsequently developed the production of battery-grade product. He also successfully executed the installation and operation of the direct lithium extraction pilot plant at Clean Tech Lithium, in the city of Copiapó.
Daniel Espinoza
Lithium Expert
Daniel Espinoza is a multinational chemical engineer with over 10 years of experience across the lithium value chain, including extraction, chemical refining (LiOH/Li₂CO₃), and battery-materials recycling. Daniel has worked hands-on in chemical plants in Chile, Finland, and Germany, embedding best practices in management of change, P&ID integrity, and process safety (PHA/HAZOP). He has a proven record of reducing costs, optimizing operations, and aligning production, maintenance, and engineering to improve reliability and quality across Europe and Latin America. Daniel holds a Diploma in Chemical Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and a MicroMasters in Manufacturing from MIT.
Matias Ehren
Circular Engineer
Matias Ehren is a Circular Engineer who recently graduated from Maastricht University where he focused on learning how innovation and engineering meet sustainability. His interests during his studies sparked in the area of material science, technology, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
His Bachelor Thesis research comprised conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for the production of Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate and Lithium Carbonate battery-grade.
Annelies Ehren
Circular Engineer
Annelies Ehren is a Circular Engineer trained at Maastricht University, with a specialization in sustainable biotechnology, where she focused on learning how innovation and engineering meet sustainability. She has a year of experience in the company. Annelies has an interest in the development of circular and sustainable solutions for the industry.