Lithium Universe Ltd (ASX:LU7, OTC:LUVSF) has signed a cooperation MOU with Hsinchu-based PV recycler RePV Tech to combine RePV’s delamination know-how with LU7’s Microwave Joule Heating Technology (MJHT) and JESE silver-extraction systems, run joint trials aimed at recovering high-purity “Britannia-grade” silver from solar-panel waste, and channel shared data under agreed IP protections toward a defined commercialisation pathway. As part of the program, RePV Tech will supply recycled silicon wafers for testing at Macquarie University laboratories, with the collaboration targeting circular-economy outcomes by converting end-of-life solar modules into valuable metal resources.
RePV Tech, established under licence from Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), is a leader in solar-module recycling with an “easy dismantling” process that separates glass from silicon wafers — an alternative to LU7’s MJHT approach to PV delamination. The company also recovers multiple valuable materials from discarded cells. Lithium Universe said the partnership aligns complementary technologies to improve recovery rates and purity while safeguarding IP and enabling future scaling.
“This collaboration with RePV Tech represents a strategic alignment of complementary technologies,” Lithium Universe executive chairman Iggy Tan said. “By integrating RePV’s proven PV module recycling expertise with our innovative silver extraction systems, we can accelerate commercial development and advance circular economy outcomes. It’s an exciting step toward sustainable recovery of valuable materials from solar waste worldwide”.
A deeper look at the MoU
The non-binding MoU between LU7 and RePV Tech will see RePV supply representative batches of silicon-wafer material from its recycling operations. The material will be tested at Macquarie University using LU7’s MJHT and Jet Electrochemical Silver Extraction (JESE) systems to gauge recovery efficiency and integration potential. The partners will jointly analyse results, tune the extraction workflow and assess pathways to scale-up, including pilot and commercial options.
Governance is set out in the MOU: each party retains pre-existing intellectual property, while any new outcomes generated together will be jointly owned. The agreement also covers data ownership and confidentiality, and includes knowledge-sharing and the pursuit of complementary opportunities as part of a broader international partnership. The MOU has a 24-month term and is framed as a stepping stone toward a global PV-recycling value chain aligned with circular-economy goals.
“We’re excited to partner with Lithium Universe and contribute our experience in PV recycling to this groundbreaking initiative,” Dr. Alex Peng, CEO of RePV Tech, said. “By combining our wafer recovery expertise with LU7’s innovative silver-extraction technology, we can accelerate sustainable solutions for the global solar industry’s growing end-of-life challenge.”
Trials will run at Macquarie University in Sydney, where LU7’s research team is advancing JESE as a cleaner, more energy-efficient alternative to conventional hydrometallurgical approaches. A key objective is to test whether JESE can recover high-purity “Britannia-grade” silver (95.95% purity) from RePV’s silicon wafers.
Focus on silver extraction
Silver is among the most valuable materials in crystalline-silicon PV modules. At around US$52.21/oz (October 2025), a typical discarded panel may contain about A$56 worth of recoverable silver. With global PV installations accelerating, end-of-life panels are forecast to generate more than 70 million tonnes of waste by 2040 — representing an under-exploited resource worth tens of billions of dollars.