Can Lithium Universe’s New Partnership Solve Solar Waste’s Silver Recovery Challenge?

Strategic Partnership in Photovoltaic Recycling

Lithium Universe Limited (ASX, LU7) has formalised a promising collaboration with Taiwan-based RePV Tech, Inc., a leader in photovoltaic (PV) recycling technology. The recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sets the stage for a joint effort to enhance silver recovery from recycled silicon wafers, a valuable component of discarded solar panels. This partnership reflects a growing industry focus on sustainable resource management and circular economy principles within the renewable energy sector.

RePV Tech brings to the table its innovative “easy dismantling” delamination process, which efficiently separates glass from silicon wafers in PV modules. Lithium Universe complements this with its proprietary Microwave Joule Heating Technology (MJHT) and Jet Electrochemical Silver Extraction (JESE) systems, designed to extract high-purity silver with minimal environmental impact. The integration of these technologies promises to improve recovery rates and process efficiency.

Testing and Innovation at Macquarie University

The collaboration will see recycled silicon wafers supplied by RePV Tech undergo rigorous testing at Macquarie University’s laboratories in Sydney. Here, Lithium Universe’s research team will apply the JESE process, which has demonstrated the ability to recover silver at over 95% purity, comparable to Britannia-grade silver, a premium standard in the precious metals market. This cleaner, energy-efficient method offers a compelling alternative to traditional hydrometallurgical techniques, which often yield lower purity and generate more waste.

Beyond silver, the process preserves the integrity of silicon wafers, opening potential secondary markets for reuse in solar-grade or nano-silicon applications. This dual-value approach enhances the economic viability of PV recycling and aligns with global efforts to reduce electronic waste and resource depletion.

Economic and Environmental Implications

Silver remains a highly valuable metal within crystalline-silicon PV panels, with current market prices making recovery from solar waste economically attractive. As global solar installations continue to expand, the volume of PV waste is expected to exceed 70 million tonnes by 2040, representing a multi-billion-dollar untapped resource. Efficient recycling technologies like those developed by Lithium Universe and RePV Tech could transform this waste stream into a sustainable supply of critical materials.

The MOU also establishes a framework for intellectual property protection and shared data ownership, ensuring both parties retain their existing innovations while jointly developing new technologies. This collaborative approach could accelerate commercialisation and scale-up, positioning the partnership as a key player in the emerging global PV recycling value chain.

Leadership Perspectives

Dr. Alex Peng, Founder and Chairman of RePV Tech, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the complementary strengths of both companies and their shared commitment to addressing the solar industry’s end-of-life challenges. Meanwhile, Lithium Universe’s Executive Chairman Iggy Tan emphasised the strategic alignment and potential for advancing circular economy outcomes through this collaboration.

As the renewable energy sector grapples with sustainability and resource scarcity, this partnership exemplifies how innovation and international cooperation can unlock new value streams from waste, supporting a greener future.