Lithium Universe has gained exclusive rights to the patented MJHT from Macquarie University for solar panel recycling
MJHT enables easy, low-temperature delamination of solar panels, improving material recovery without contamination
The company will focus on silver recovery under phase I, driven by rising demand and soaring silver prices
Future plans include extracting other valuable metals like silicon, indium, and gallium from solar waste, in collaboration with Macquarie University
With the acquisition of New Age Minerals (NAM) now complete, Australia’s Lithium Universe Limited has gained exclusive global access to Macquarie University’s patented Microwave Joule Heating Technology (MJHT). The company, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange as LU7, aims to develop this innovation into a commercial solar panel recycling solution.
Macquarie’s MJHT uses microwaves to gently heat silicon wafers and soften the Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) layer in solar panels. This makes it easy to separate the layers and recover valuable materials at room temperature, without the need for extreme heat of 1,400°C. The process avoids mechanical crushing, reducing contamination and improving recovery rates, explains LU7.
NAM acquired exclusive licensing rights to this technology from Macquarie. Following its acquisition, LU7 will now work with the Macquarie team led by Dr. Binesh Puthen Veetti. It will now aim to recover silver under Phase I of the critical metals extraction from PV panels.
Currently, the global silver supply and demand are not balanced. The solar industry is one of the largest users of silver, driving its prices up. Between 2018 and 2025, silver prices rose by 126% from $15/oz to $38/oz.
Moreover, Australia is likely to see 1 million tonnes of solar panel waste by 2035, while the global total will be up to 8 million tonnes by 2030, and 60 to 78 million tonnes by 2050. This is where LU7 sees a business opportunity.
“Recycling and extracting silver from solar panels presents a lucrative business opportunity for LU7 due to the substantial amount of silver in each panel—approximately 20 grams, equating to around A$36 in value,” states the management. “With the growing volume of solar panel waste, this offers a readily available cheap feedstock for recycling. As the demand for silver increases, especially in industries like electronics and renewable energy, recovering silver from end-of-life panels can become a valuable and sustainable revenue stream.”
The Macquarie team is also developing a complementary silver extraction technology for delaminated silicon wafers from the microwave delamination process. LU7 says the technology is currently in the patent submission stage and the license will be made available to it once it is ready. It will form phase II of its strategy under which LU7 seeks to extract silicon, gallium, indium and other such valuable metals in discarded solar panels. These can then be reused for advanced electronics, power devices, and high-efficiency solar cells.
“Due to the large volume of residual material, rising prices, and supply shortages, the Company plans to focus on silver extraction as the first phase,” explained LU7 Executive Chairman Iggy Tan. “Once we address silver extraction, we can then explore the extraction and recovery of other critical metals like silicon, indium, and gallium—critical in advanced semiconductor and solar energy technologies.”
The initiative, explains the company, is part of its broader strategy to become a market leader in mineral processing for the circular energy economy.
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