Australia’s Lithium Universe Limited has completed the 100% acquisition of New Age Minerals as part of an exclusive agreement with Macquarie University to advance solar panel recycling using microwave Joule technology.
Valorization of solar panel recycling
With this operation, LU7 strengthens its position as a strategic player in photovoltaic recycling. photovoltaic recyclingby consolidating its strategy of recovering critical metals from solar modules at the end of their useful life. This acquisition gives LU7 exclusive rights to a patented technology that allows the extraction of silver, silicon and other strategic materials without damaging the reusable components of the panel.
The so-called MJHT technology(Joule Microwave Heating Technology), the product of a collaboration with researchers at Macquarie University, allows the layers of solar cells to be broken down with precision, energy efficiency and minimal environmental impact.
According to estimates, by 2050 the waste derived from solar panels will exceed 60 million tons globally. Faced with this scenario, LU7 seeks to offer practical solutions to close the life cycle of solar modules, extracting silver, gallium and indium with a high recovery rate, thus contributing to the supply of essential materials for the energy transition.
This initiative is in addition to LU7’s ongoing project in Quebec, where it is developing a lithium carbonate refinery for the electric vehicle battery market. electric vehicles. The integration of these two strategies establishes the company as one of the capabilities to address the challenges of both lithium supply and clean technology recycling.
Iggy Tan, CEO of LU7, mentioned that this collaboration with Macquarie will accelerate applied research and develop commercial solutions that support the sustainability of the energy sector. With this move, Lithium Universe expands its impact on the renewable energy value chain.
Source and photo: Lithium Universe
