• Application for $386,000 AEA Ignite Grant to develop integrated solar panel recycling prototype
• Combining Macquarie's Microwave Joule Heating Technology and Jet Electrochemical Silver Extraction
• Aims to recover high-purity silver, intact glass, and recyclable silicon wafers

Lithium Universe Limited (ASX: LU7) has announced that it has applied, together with Macquarie University, for the Australia's Economic Accelerator (AEA) Ignite Grant by the Department of Education. The grant, if successful, will support the development of an integrated recycling prototype for end-of-life solar panels, combining Macquarie's patented Microwave Joule Heating Technology (MJHT) with the breakthrough Jet Electrochemical Silver Extraction (JESE) process. The key objectives of the project are to develop microwave-assisted delamination (MJHT), implement jet electrochemical silver recovery (JESE), and integrate both technologies into a pilot prototype. The combined MJHT-JESE approach is expected to transform recycling economics by delivering multiple technical breakthroughs, including preserving wafer integrity for reuse, dramatically shortening processing times, reducing chemical intensity, and producing high-purity metallic silver that can be directly reused in photovoltaic cells and electronic components. The 12-month project is divided into two phases, with Phase 1 focusing on R&D and prototyping, and Phase 2 concentrating on integrating MJHT and JESE into a pilot system. The total grant application amounts to $385,728, supported by additional contributions from project partners, including Macquarie University and Lithium Universe. The outcome of the application is expected by the end of December 2025, and there is no certainty of approval. In the meantime, Lithium Universe will continue to fund ongoing research and development costs of $100,000 over the next six months.

If successful, the grant will allow Lithium Universe and Macquarie University to accelerate the development of their integrated solar panel recycling prototype from laboratory validation to a scalable pilot, positioning Australia as a global leader in clean energy circular economy solutions.