Comstock Metals Brings Fully Integrated Industry-Scale Solar Recycling System Online
Rhea-AI Summary
Comstock (NYSE: LODE) announced that subsidiary Comstock Metals has fully integrated, tested and operated its first-of-a-kind, industry-scale solar panel recycling system in Silver Springs, Nevada. The 100,000-ton-per-year line has successfully processed panels through all stages, from robotic intake and shredding to conditioning and production of clean, separated offtake materials.
All processing stages have been connected, with final integration expected by mid-August and production ramp-up beginning immediately after. According to Comstock, operations will transition to 24/7, 12-hour rotating shifts, targeting a first production milestone in September of continuous operation at 25% of rated capacity. The company also reports progress on proprietary metals recovery technologies, advancing toward a one-ton-per-day pilot system for recovering silver and other metals from industrial offcuts.
Positive
- 100,000-ton-per-year industry-scale solar recycling line fully integrated and tested
- First production milestone targeted at 25% of rated capacity in continuous operation
- Transition from 24-hour, five-day schedule to 24/7 operations with rotating 12-hour shifts
- Glass-upgrading systems installed and tested ahead of original production plan
- Metals recovery pilot system advancing toward one ton per day capacity
Negative
- None.
News Explained
The plant is operating after full-stage testing, but final integration and production ramp-up remain unfinished.
Comstock Metals has started its 100,000-ton-per-year solar-recycling facility after processing panels through every production stage, moving from staged commissioning toward full-system operations and production ramp-up.
Although the headline says the system is fully integrated and online, the release says final integration is still due in mid-August and that operational integration will occur over the next few days, so the current disclosure supports an online, tested system rather than completed ramp-up.
The company also reports stress-testing the processes at volumes representing the equipment’s stated capacities, adding a capacity-level test to its stage-by-stage testing.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23 | Quarterly results | Negative | -22.7% | Impairment and strategic transition accompanied second-quarter results and outlook. |
| Jul 21 | Service agreement | Positive | +2.3% | Illuminate USA agreement expanded solar-material recycling services and domestic supply-chain activity. |
| Jul 16 | Earnings call notice | Neutral | -0.5% | Company scheduled a webinar covering second-quarter results and current business updates. |
| Jul 07 | Investor presentation | Neutral | +5.9% | Management scheduled a fireside chat covering financial position and recycling milestones. |
| Jul 07 | Facility integration | Positive | -5.2% | Front-end recycling equipment became operational ahead of continuous August operations. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
LODE aligned with positive or negative news twice and diverged three times, including a negative reaction to prior facility progress.
Key Terms
offtake materials financial
unit operation technical
rated capacity technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
First-of-a-Kind, 100,000-Ton-Per-Year System Successfully Processes Panels Through All Production Stages and Produces Clean, Separated Offtake Materials
SILVER SPRINGS, Nev., Aug. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”) and Comstock Metals LLC (“Comstock Metals”), a leader in the responsible, zero-landfill recycling of end-of-life solar panels with North America’s first certified operations, announced today that Comstock Metals has fully integrated, tested and operated its complete solar panel recycling system.
Comstock Metals has started its first-of-a-kind, industry-scale solar recycling facility. The system has now successfully processed panels through every stage of production, completing the final major milestone in the testing and evaluation of each unit operation. Final integration will be completed mid-August, at which point the ramp-up process to the first production milestone will begin. This milestone transitions Comstock Metals from staged equipment commissioning to full-system operations and production ramp-up.
All of the facility’s processing stages have now been fully tested and connected and will be operationally integrated over the next few days. The first images in the appended video show the robotic system, feed conveyor, and particle dimensioning system in operation. This is followed by an open view of the oven system before being permanently closed; collectively representing the principal unit operations for shredding, conditioning, and other proprietary Comstock processes, and completing the start-up sequence for the 100,000-ton-per-year production line. The previously announced glass-upgrading systems have also been installed and tested ahead of the original production plan, adding expanded glass-treatment capabilities onto the original designs and supporting the production of higher-specification glass products.
“We are now ready to finalize integration activities and the start of operations,” stated Corrado De Gasperis, CEO of Comstock. “Completion of the full start-up milestones brings the full production system online and demonstrates operation from panel intake through the production of final offtake materials. The team is now evaluating multiple processing scenarios and transition from commissioning to full continuous processing over the next few weeks. We anticipate reaching our first production milestone in September.”
See demonstration video here of Comstock Metals’ fully integrated industry-scale system processes end-of-life solar panels from initial shredding through the production of clean, separated offtake materials.
Industry-Scale Operations and Production Ramp-Up
“We have now brought the industry-scale production plant online, confirmed that each stage functions as designed and to specification, and successfully stress-tested the processes at volumes representing the equipment’s stated capacities,” stated Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals. “We are now leveraging the modular nature of the start-up process to train and develop our operating crews as we transition from a 24-hour, five-day-per-week schedule to a 24/7 schedule using 12-hour rotating shifts. These activities remain on schedule through August as we ramp toward our first production milestone of continuously operating at
“While our Recycling and Upgrading operations ramp up, we have also advanced the development of our proprietary Metals Recovery processes. These novel metal extraction technologies should enable the economic recovery of silver and other metals and materials from our industrial Offcut stream,” concluded Villamagna. “This work has advanced significantly over the past few months and remains on schedule toward the achievement of our next major milestone, the development of our one-ton-per-day pilot system.”
About Comstock Metals
Comstock Metals is a national leader in the environmentally responsible, zero-landfill recycling of end-of-life solar panels and related energy infrastructure. Comstock Metals’ internally developed recycling technologies and continuous innovation produce recovered materials that strengthen domestic supply chains for advanced technologies while helping customers eliminate the economic, environmental, and reputational liabilities associated with end-of-life panel management. To learn more and stay up to date, visit www.comstockmetals.com and follow Comstock Metals on LinkedIn and YouTube.
About Comstock Inc.
Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) innovates and commercializes technologies, systems and supply chains that enable, support and sustain clean energy systems by efficiently, effectively, and expediently extracting and converting under-utilized natural resources into reusable metals, like silver, aluminum, gold, and other critical minerals, primarily from end-of-life photovoltaics and renewable fuels and other forms of energy.
To learn more, please visit www.comstock.inc.
Comstock Social Media Policy
Comstock Inc. has used, and intends to continue using, its investor relations link and main website at www.comstock.inc in addition to its X.com, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts, as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
Contacts
For investor inquiries:
Judd B. Merrill, Chief Financial Officer
Tel (775) 413-6222
ir@comstockinc.com
For media inquiries:
Zach Spencer, Director of External Relations
Tel (775) 847-7573
media@comstockinc.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and any related calls or discussions may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “forecast,” “seek,” “target,” “should,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “potential” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of doing so. Forward-looking statements include statements about matters such as: future market conditions; future financial, natural, and social gains; future prices and sales of, and demand for, our products and services; permits; production capacity and operations; operating and overhead costs; future capital expenditures and their impact on us; operational and management changes (including changes in the Board of Directors); changes in business strategies, planning and tactics; future employment and contributions of personnel, including consultants; future land and asset sales; investments, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances and business combinations; litigation, administrative or arbitration proceedings; environmental compliance and changes in the regulatory environment; offerings of equity or debt securities; and future working capital needs, revenues, variable costs, throughput rates, operating expenses, debt levels, cash flows, margins, taxes and earnings. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical and current trends, current conditions, possible future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, representations or warranties and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control and could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Some of those risks and uncertainties include the risk factors set forth in our filings with the SEC. Occurrence of such events or circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, or the market price of our securities. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements by or attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Except as may be required by securities or other law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither this press release nor any related calls or discussions constitutes an offer to sell, the solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation with respect to any securities of the Company or any other issuer.
