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The precision method recovers silver without damaging silicon wafers or glass, offering over 77% efficiency with minimal waste.
Australia may soon recycle solar panels in a way that recovers valuable silver without destroying other components, thanks to a new technology licensed by Macquarie University to ASX-listed Lithium Universe.
Researchers at Macquarie University’s School of Engineering have developed a precision silver extraction process that they say could turn the country’s growing stockpile of discarded solar panels into a major silver source.
According to the team, the amount of silver trapped inside Australia’s retired panels equals the output of the nation’s largest silver mine. With solar panel waste expected to rise sharply, this innovation could offer both an environmental and economic boost.
Dr Binesh Puthen Veettil and Dr David Payne lead the team and hold a provisional patent for their method. It targets silver in panels without damaging the silicon cells, glass, or other materials, leaving them intact for reuse.
The new process works alongside the team’s patented solar-panel microwave-powered delamination technology, which is also licensed to Lithium Universe.
“We can selectively remove silver without touching other metals like aluminium, and without impacting the silicon cells and other components,” Veettil says. “Our solution is like a pressure washer for removing silver.”
Solar panels typically last around 25 years. Many installed during the early 2000s are now reaching the end of their lifespan, creating a growing waste problem.
The Australian Energy Council estimates global solar panel waste could reach between 60 and 78 million tonnes by 2050. Australia alone may accumulate about one million tonnes by 2035.
Each panel contains about 20 grams of silver worth roughly A$36 (US$23). However, traditional recycling methods involve shredding panels and using harsh chemicals, which destroy most components. Only about 15 per cent of used solar panels in Australia are recycled.
Recovering silver from panels is becoming increasingly important as demand for the metal rises. Silver is used in electronics, renewable energy systems, and various industrial applications. Global demand is growing at around 7 per cent annually and could reach 20 million kilograms in 2025.
Mining output is struggling to keep up. This year, the market faces a shortage of 3.3 million kilograms. Prices have more than doubled recently from under US$600 (A$920) per kilogram in 2018 to US$1,250 (A$1,913) per kilogram today.
Under the agreement, Lithium Universe has secured global rights to Macquarie’s technology for more than A$500,000 (US$320,000) over 20 years.
The technology, known as Jet Electrochemical Silver Extraction (JESE), uses a fine stream of weak acid to dissolve silver directly from the panel surface in seconds—the acid stream targets only the silver, leaving everything else untouched.
“The silicon wafer remains intact and uncontaminated, making it suitable for reuse in semiconductor manufacturing,” Veettil says.
This contrasts sharply with traditional recycling, which grinds panels into powder and treats the material with aggressive chemicals. The Macquarie method preserves the glass sheets and silicon wafers while extracting pure silver.
The silver recovery process is paired with the team’s microwave-powered delamination system, which separates glass, silicon, and other parts without grinding or high heat.
Together, the technologies can recover intact glass sheets, keep silicon wafers reusable, and extract high-purity silver with over 77 per cent efficiency and minimal waste.
Lithium Universe plans to complete research and development before rolling out commercial operations by 2032. The company will pay annual licensing fees and a royalty on sales.
Lithium Universe sees the technology as a key part of its long-term vision for sustainable recycling.
“We have built a strong, solutions-focused partnership combining Macquarie’s world-class research with our commercial vision,” says Tan. “Together, we deliver a breakthrough recycling solution that recovers high-purity silver while preserving wafer integrity.”
Veettil believes the precision process could later be adapted to extract other valuable metals from solar panels, including gallium, indium, and copper.
“This collaboration shows the impact university research can have when paired with industry vision,” says Professor Sam Muller, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
He adds that innovation is crucial to Australia’s renewable energy push. “As Australia moves toward its target of 82 per cent renewable energy by 2030, we’re not just solving the solar waste problem – we’re creating a new resource stream to meet worldwide demand.”
A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.
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