4 February 2026 – Adelaide, Australia | Iondrive Limited (ASX:ION) has reported encouraging early laboratory results from its proprietary IONSolv™ metal extraction platform, achieving greater than 85% silver extraction efficiency in initial bench-scale testing and marking a key step forward in the Company’s solar panel recycling initiative.
The early-stage laboratory program was designed to establish a performance baseline for IONSolv™ under controlled conditions and to support further optimisation ahead of application to end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) materials. Testing to date has been conducted as discrete batch experiments using small laboratory aliquots of metallic silver, with results providing confidence to progress the program in collaboration with Livium Ltd.
As the next phase of work, Iondrive has commenced testing on mechanically prepared end-of-life solar panel materials. Feedstock preparation and panel dismantling support for PV modules is being provided by Livium, underscoring the importance of supply and processing partnerships in developing scalable recycling solutions.
The solar panel recycling program will now advance towards assessing recovery pathways for both silver and polysilicon, aligning with Iondrive’s broader critical minerals processing strategy. Planned activities include further laboratory optimisation, preliminary techno-economic assessment, and evaluation of recovery performance and scalability as the program progresses towards larger-scale testing.
Australia’s end-of-life solar panel waste stream is expected to grow substantially over the coming years as early installations approach the end of their typical 25–30 year lifespans. Industry research indicates that a significant proportion of valuable materials contained within photovoltaic panels, including silver and silicon, are not recovered under existing recycling practices, creating both environmental challenges and opportunities for improved resource recovery.
Current recycling approaches typically focus on lower-value components such as aluminium framing, with the remainder of panel materials often down-cycled or sent to landfill due to technological and economic constraints. Iondrive’s solar program seeks to address this gap by targeting the recovery of high-value materials early in the recycling process, with silver and high-grade silicon representing two of the most economically attractive commodity streams within photovoltaic waste.
Progression of the initiative is supported by Iondrive’s strategic collaboration with Livium, an Australian company focused on circular economy solutions across battery materials and recycling. The collaboration enables Iondrive to evaluate how laboratory outcomes may translate beyond controlled conditions and supports the development of integrated, scalable recycling workflows for Australia’s growing solar waste challenge.
Further updates on the solar panel recycling program will be provided as work continues.
About us:
About Iondrive
Iondrive is developing IONSolv™, an innovative metal extraction platform for the selective recovery of critical minerals. The technology operates at low temperatures, avoids aggressive acids, and uses tuneable chemistry to enable efficient, closed-loop extraction across a range of feedstocks. While initial deployment is in battery materials, IONSolv™ is designed for broader application in mineral processing and urban mining of e-waste.
Contact details:
Jane Morgan Management
Invetor & Media Relations
ollie@janemorganmanagement.com.au
