Australia is making notable progress in solar recycling research, now ranking second globally, just behind China, according to a new report by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The report underscores the urgent need for enhanced investment in research and development (R&D) to improve mid-stream processing technologies, essential for Australia’s shift towards a more sustainable and competitive solar industry.
The CSIRO's comprehensive report, titled "From Minerals to Materials: Assessment of Australia’s Critical Mineral Mid-Stream Processing Capabilities," highlights Australia’s potential to excel in mid-stream activities, particularly in the production of metallurgical silicon and polysilicon.
Investments in research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) are identified as crucial, particularly through international collaborations. These investments will allow Australia to develop mid-stream processing technologies for critical minerals like rare earth elements and silicon, which are key components in solar cells and panels.
A transition from traditional mining models to more advanced processing methods is necessary. The report suggests that prioritizing RD&D investments will enable Australia to capitalize on the growing demand for energy transition minerals across the entire supply chain.
RD&D has the potential to significantly improve the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of solar recycling technologies. By developing and optimizing these technologies, Australia can enhance the recovery volume and quality of critical minerals, thereby boosting the circular economy.
"The report notes that the demand for critical minerals has doubled over the past five years, reaching $488.3 billion (USD 320 billion). This surge is driven by the continued deployment of solar and wind energy technologies and the rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs). Key minerals such as lithium, cobalt, silicon, rare earth elements, and graphite are at the forefront of this demand."
"The global solar industry has faced challenges due to low-cost bulk and low-purity processes. However, Australia's increasing solar waste stream and targeted RD&D processes aimed at higher-quality material recovery could improve the feasibility of domestic projects," the report states.
The importance of piloting and demonstrating domestic intellectual property (IP) in this field is also emphasized. Key RD&D focus areas include delamination technologies and hydrometallurgical recovery of high-purity materials.
The report highlights the need for international collaboration to avoid redundancy in Australia’s efforts and investments. Max Temminghoff, CSIRO Futures Minerals Lead, believes the report will assist Australia in transitioning from merely mining and shipping to higher-value processing and manufacturing using critical minerals.
"This report provides an optimistic outlook, offering insights into current RD&D capabilities and a pathway forward," Temminghoff said. "Australia possesses a rich resource endowment and world-leading capabilities in several mid-stream activities. However, to become competitive in mid-stream processing, promoting innovation, coordinating efforts across industry, research, and government, and fostering international collaboration are essential."
Lucy O’Connor, Manager of the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub, emphasized that the report serves as a valuable resource for industry stakeholders, international partners, investors, and the R&D sector.
"The report is intended for sectors needing to identify comparative opportunities and the most challenging technical bottlenecks in developing integrated supply chains for critical minerals," O’Connor said. "It is crucial to ensure research is targeted at industry problems and outcomes, leading to commercially viable technologies."
By fostering innovation, coordinating efforts across industry, research, and government, and strategically engaging in international collaboration, Australia aims to enhance its capabilities in solar recycling and mid-stream processing technologies. The path to leadership in these sectors will require sustained investment, rigorous RD&D, and a pragmatic approach to overcoming technical and commercial challenges.