Key Highlights

  • Lithium Universe (ASX:LU7) has had a joint research project with Macquarie University selected under the CSIRO Industry PhD Program.
  • The four-year program will investigate microwave-assisted recycling of end-of-life silicon photovoltaic modules, supporting LU7's Silver Extraction PV Recycling Project.
  • Total scholarship funding for the program is approximately $207,143, comprising $155,433 from CSIRO and a $51,710 industry-funded top-up from LU7.
  • Australia currently generates approximately 60,000 tonnes of end-of-life solar panels annually, a figure forecast to rise to approximately 91,000 tonnes by 2030.

Lithium Universe Limited (ASX:LU7) has announced that a research project jointly submitted with Macquarie University has been selected for funding under the CSIRO Industry PhD Program, establishing a four-year collaboration to advance the company's microwave-based solar panel recycling technology.

Program Selection

Lithium Universe and Macquarie University jointly submitted a proposed research project for consideration under the CSIRO Industry PhD Program. Following its assessment, CSIRO advised that the project, titled "Microwave-Assisted Recycling of End-of-Life Silicon Photovoltaic Modules", had been successful. The CSIRO Industry PhD Program is a four-year initiative that brings together CSIRO, an Australian university and an industry partner to support a PhD student undertaking applied research on a real industry challenge, combining academic expertise, CSIRO scientific capability and a minimum 60-day industry placement.

Research Focus

The successful project supports Lithium Universe's Silver Extraction PV Recycling Project by advancing microwave-assisted separation of end-of-life solar panels. The research will investigate how microwave energy can separate the different layers of solar panels without crushing or contaminating them, with the objective of recovering glass, silicon, silver and other metals in higher-quality forms suitable for reuse. The program will examine microwave system design, process parameters, module variability, recovered-material quality, lifecycle impacts and scale-up requirements, with performance assessed against recovery yield, purity, energy efficiency and commercial viability thresholds.

Research Team and Structure

The four-year collaboration involves Macquarie University providing primary academic supervision through Dr Binesh Puthen Veettil, CSIRO providing scientific supervision through Dr Michael Batten, and Lithium Universe providing industry supervision through Dr Jingyuan Liu. The selected PhD candidate will complete a minimum 60-day Industry Engagement Component with Lithium Universe over the course of the candidature, with planned activities including pilot testing, feedstock assessment, end-user engagement, lifecycle assessment, techno-economic modelling, and the design and costing of scaled trials.

Funding Structure

For a student commencing in 2027, the total scholarship is approximately $207,143 over four years, comprising $155,433 funded by CSIRO and a $51,710 industry-funded top-up from Lithium Universe. The program also provides approximately $56,019 for project expenses and professional development, while Macquarie University has committed an additional $6,000 towards project expenses.

Next Steps

CSIRO will now commence its internal contract preparation process, with a draft collaboration agreement between CSIRO, Macquarie University and Lithium Universe expected to be issued for review before the end of October 2026. CSIRO has advised that 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 expression of interest round, subject to timely agreement execution, successful student recruitment, background checks and enrolment.

Market Context

The company cited data indicating Australia currently generates approximately 3 million end-of-life solar panels, equivalent to approximately 60,000 tonnes, on an annual basis, with this Volume forecast to rise to approximately 91,000 tonnes by 2030. Globally, annual photovoltaic module retirements are projected to reach approximately 500,000 tonnes by 2030 and more than 19 million tonnes per annum by 2060. Each solar panel is estimated to contain approximately 20 grams of silver, implying approximately 60 tonnes of contained silver within Australia's current annual end-of-life panel stream.

Investment Considerations

The announcement relates to the selection and structuring of a research collaboration rather than to the commercialisation of a finished technology. The program is a four-year undertaking, with the earliest project commencement expected approximately six months after the close of the expression of interest round, and is subject to successful negotiation of a collaboration agreement, student recruitment and enrolment. Any commercial application of the research findings would depend on outcomes that have not yet been generated, and the company has stated that commercialisation, intellectual property and confidentiality arrangements will be governed by the definitive Collaboration Agreement once executed.

Conclusion

The selection of Lithium Universe's joint proposal under the CSIRO Industry PhD Program provides the company with access to CSIRO and Macquarie University's scientific expertise and facilities over a four-year research period, at a funding cost substantially shared with CSIRO and the university. The program is intended to support the development of the company's microwave-assisted delamination technology from a laboratory concept toward a more scalable process, though the practical and commercial outcomes of the research will not be known until the study has been conducted.