Lithium Universe acquires global rights to commercialise new solar panel recycling technology

Lithium Universe (ASX: LU7) will acquire the global rights to commercialise a patented photovoltaic solar panel recycling technology through the acquisition of private development company New Age Minerals.

Executive chair Iggy Tan said the deal — which the company will complete for minimal consideration — will keep Lithium Universe busy while it waits for a recovery in the global lithium market.

The company aims to integrate microwave joule technology into existing solar panel recycling facilities, scaling it for mass production without the need for expensive infrastructure changes.

Exclusive licence

Lithium Universe will acquire an exclusive licence to commercialise microwave joule heating, which utilises microwaves to selectively heat silicon and soften the EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) encapsulant in solar panels.

“Now that we have completed the definitive feasibility study for our Bécancour lithium refinery in Québec and secured all the necessary components, we are positioned and ready for a lithium price recovery,” Mr Tan said.

“We firmly believe we will benefit when the lithium market rebounds and in the meantime we have been presented with an exciting opportunity to potentially extract critical metals from solar panel recycling.”

Critical metals recovery

Integrating the microwave joule technology enables easy delamination and recovery of critical metals such as silver, silicon, gallium and indium at room temperature.

The innovation eliminates the need for costly hazardous chemicals or the extreme temperatures of up to 1,400°C typically applied when separating materials like glass and silicon.

The fumes released generate only minimal emissions when heating the encapsulant plastic—much lower than those from processes such as thermal incineration.

Integrity retained

Delamination enables the front glass and back sheet of a solar panel to be separated without mechanical crushing or compromising the integrity of the underlying materials.

The process allows for the full recovery of elements such as silver and silicon, compared to traditional shredding processes that recover only bulk materials such as glass, aluminium and copper.

Delamination is reportedly capable of pushing total material recovery to over 95% by value.

Experienced management

The Lithium Universe management team consists of specialists with extensive experience in the chemical extraction of critical materials, as well as in pilot plants, plant design and feasibility studies.

Mr Tan said the team would begin evaluating the viability of high-yield recovery efforts aimed at extracting valuable materials from end-of-life solar panel modules.

The company also plans to investigate applying microwave joule technology to the calcination and sulphation of spodumene and the drying of final lithium carbonate at the Bécancour refinery.