Lithium Universe Wins CSIRO Backing to Recover Silver From Dead Solar Panels
Key Takeaways
- CSIRO has independently selected LU7 and Macquarie University's joint Expression of Interest under its competitive Industry PhD Program, providing institutional endorsement of LU7's microwave delamination approach to solar panel recycling.
- Australia generates approximately 3 million end-of-life solar panels (60,000 tonnes) annually, with that figure forecast to reach 91,000 tonnes by 2030 — each panel containing roughly 20 grams of recoverable silver.
- The four-year program is structured across three parties: Macquarie University (academic supervision), CSIRO (scientific supervision and scale-up expertise), and LU7 (industry partner), with total grant funding of A$207,143 for the PhD scholarship plus A$56,019 in project expenses.
- LU7's cash contribution is capped at A$51,710 over four years, with CSIRO contributing A$155,433 — materially reducing LU7's R&D cost burden while advancing the technology toward pilot-scale validation.
- A draft Collaboration Agreement is expected before end of October 2026, with project commencement targeted approximately six months after the EOI round closes, subject to student recruitment and agreement execution.
LU7 secures CSIRO collaboration for microwave solar panel recycling research
Lithium Universe Limited (ASX: LU7) and Macquarie University have jointly had their Expression of Interest (EOI) selected under the CSIRO Industry PhD Program for a project titled “Microwave-Assisted Recycling of End-of-Life Silicon Photovoltaic Modules.” The selection represents independent scientific endorsement of LU7’s microwave delamination approach, with CSIRO’s competitive program carrying substantial institutional credibility.
The collaboration brings together three parties across a four-year program: Macquarie University provides academic supervision, CSIRO contributes scientific supervision and scale-up expertise, and LU7 serves as industry partner with commercial direction. Named supervisors are Dr Binesh Puthen Veettil (Macquarie University), Dr Michael Batten (CSIRO), and Dr Jingyuan Liu (LU7). For investors, CSIRO’s independent involvement strengthens LU7’s credibility with government bodies and future industry partners while reducing the company’s R&D cost burden.
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Why solar panel recycling is becoming a critical industry challenge
The scale of the problem is substantial. Australia currently generates approximately 3 million end-of-life solar panels, or 60,000 tonnes, annually, with annual waste forecast to increase to approximately 91,000 tonnes by 2030. Globally, annual PV module retirements are projected to reach approximately 500,000 tonnes by 2030 and more than 19 million tonnes per annum by 2060.
The materials locked inside these panels are valuable. Each panel contains approximately 20 grams of silver, implying approximately 60 tonnes of contained silver in Australia’s current annual end-of-life stream alone.
LU7’s microwave delamination approach selectively heats the encapsulant layer to separate module layers intact, without crushing or cross-contamination. This enables higher-quality recovery of:
- Glass
- Silicon
- Silver
- Other metals
What the four-year research program involves
Research focus and process
The program will develop and optimise a microwave-assisted delamination process that selectively heats the encapsulant (the EVA layer) within silicon photovoltaic modules. The objective is to separate module layers intact and without cross-contamination, enabling the recovery of glass, silicon and metals in forms suitable for reuse in new products.
The program will examine:
- Microwave system design
- Process parameters
- Module variability
- Recovered-material quality
- Lifecycle impacts
- Scale-up requirements
Performance will be assessed against recovery yield, purity, energy efficiency and commercial viability thresholds.
Industry engagement and grant structure
The selected PhD candidate will complete a minimum 60-day Industry Engagement Component with LU7 over the course of the candidature. Planned activities include pilot testing, feedstock assessment, end-user engagement, lifecycle assessment, techno-economic modelling, and the design and costing of scaled trials.
Grant funding for a student commencing in 2027 is structured as follows:
| Funding Component | Amount | Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhD scholarship (total) | A$207,143 | CSIRO + LU7 | Over four years |
| CSIRO scholarship contribution | A$155,433 | CSIRO | |
| LU7 industry top-up | A$51,710 | LU7 | |
| Project expenses and professional development | A$56,019 | Program | |
| Macquarie University project expenses | A$6,000 | Macquarie University | Additional contribution |
Any commercialisation, intellectual property and confidentiality arrangements will be governed by the definitive Collaboration Agreement.
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Next steps and investment case
The path to project commencement follows a defined timeline:
- A draft iPhD Collaboration Agreement is expected to be issued for review before the end of October 2026.
- Negotiation and execution of the agreement, together with award of the grant, is expected to take approximately 10 to 12 weeks from issue of the draft agreement.
- The earliest project commencement is approximately six months after the close of the EOI round, subject to timely agreement execution, successful student recruitment, background checks and university enrolment.
For investors, this collaboration is expected to advance LU7’s Silver Extraction PV Recycling Project from laboratory proof-of-concept toward pilot-scale and commercial validation, at reduced cost to the company. IP generated through the program may support further development of LU7’s photovoltaic recycling strategy, though commercialisation outcomes are not guaranteed.
Iggy Tan, Chief Executive Officer, Lithium Universe
“The successful EOI is an important endorsement of the strength of this collaborative research project and its potential contribution to Australia’s circular economy. The project brings together complementary research and industry capabilities to address a growing challenge: recovering higher-value materials from end-of-life solar panels rather than consigning them to landfill. For Lithium Universe, the program provides a structured pathway to advance microwave-assisted delamination from laboratory proof-of-concept towards a scalable commercial process. The proposed industry placement will also embed the PhD candidate within our technical and business development team, ensuring the research remains focused on practical process design, recovered-material quality and commercial viability.”
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