10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2024

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             .

Commission file number: 001-37515

Aqua Metals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	47-1169572
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification no.)

5370 Kietzke Lane, Suite 201

Reno, Nevada 89511

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(775) 446-4418

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class of stock:	Trading symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered:
Common Stock	AQMS	The Nasdaq Capital Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act):

Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☒	Smaller reporting company	☒
		Emerging Growth Company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of November 12, 2024, there were 7,131,786 outstanding shares of the common stock of Aqua Metals, Inc.

		Page
	PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Financial Statements	1
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 - Unaudited	1
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 - Unaudited	2
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 - Unaudited	3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 - Unaudited	4
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements - Unaudited	5
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	14
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	18
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	18
	PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	19
Item 6.	Exhibits	20

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

AQUA METALS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Unaudited

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,950		$	16,522
Note receivable - LINICO		250			600
Accounts receivable		486			67
Inventory		330			929
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		148			181
Total current assets		4,164			18,299
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net		16,615			10,347
Intellectual property, net		164			281
Other assets		7,540			4,673
Total non-current assets		24,319			15,301
Total assets	$	28,483		$	33,600
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	1,477		$	1,836
Accrued expenses		2,314			2,467
Lease liability, current portion		286			275
Note payable, current portion		2,988			35
Total current liabilities		7,065			4,613
Non-current liabilities
Lease liability, non-current portion		520			—
Note payable, non-current portion		—			2,923
Total liabilities		7,585			7,536
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 12)
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock; $0.001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 6,855,991 and 6,826,572, shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024, respectively and 5,415,433 and 5,394,005 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023, respectively		7			5
Additional paid-in capital		261,410			249,790
Accumulated deficit		(240,327	)		(223,215	)
Treasury stock, at cost; common shares: 29,419 and 21,428 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively		(192	)		(516	)
Total stockholders’ equity		20,898			26,064
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	28,483		$	33,600

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

1

AQUA METALS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - Unaudited

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023			2024			2023
Product Sales	$	—		$	25		$	—		$	25
Operating cost and expense
Plant operations		1,617			1,770			6,198			4,316
Research and development cost		398			389			1,349			1,359
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment		448			—			448			(23	)
General and administrative expense		2,748			2,815			9,170			8,670
Total operating expense		5,211			4,974			17,165			14,322
Loss from operations		(5,211	)		(4,949	)		(17,165	)		(14,297	)
Other income and (expense)
Interest expense		(83	)		(87	)		(273	)		(518	)
Interest and other income		84			489			329			903
Total other income, net		1			402			56			385
Loss before income tax expense		(5,210	)		(4,547	)		(17,109	)		(13,912	)
Income tax expense		—			—			3			—
Net loss	$	(5,210	)	$	(4,547	)	$	(17,112	)	$	(13,912	)
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted		6,816,190			5,080,889			6,171,512			4,455,199
Basic and diluted net loss per share	$	(0.76	)	$	(0.89	)	$	(2.77	)	$	(3.12	)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

2

AQUA METALS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity - Unaudited

(in thousands, except share amounts)

					Additional												Total
	Common Stock				Paid-in			Accumulated			Treasury Stock						Stockholders'
	Shares		Amount		Capital			Deficit			Shares			Amount			Equity
Balances, June 30, 2024		6,690,027	$	7	$	260,681		$	(235,117	)		22,832		$	(360	)	$	25,211
Stock-based compensation		—		—		638			—			—			—			638
Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting		57,183		—		(359	)		—			6,587			168			(191	)
Common stock issued for consulting fees		20,111		—		150			—			—			—			150
Common stock issued for ATM share sales, net of $34 transaction costs		54,080		—		277			—			—			—			277
Common stock issued for director fees		5,171		—		23			—			—			—			23
Net loss		—		—		—			(5,210	)		—			—			(5,210	)
Balances, September 30, 2024		6,826,572	$	7	$	261,410		$	(240,327	)		29,419		$	(192	)	$	20,898
Balances, December 31, 2023		5,394,005	$	5	$	249,790		$	(223,215	)		21,428		$	(516	)	$	26,064
Stock-based compensation		—		—		2,163			—			—			—			2,163
Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting		91,542		—		(875	)		—			7,991			324			(551	)
Common stock issued for employee stock purchase plan sales		3,444		—		35			—			—			—			35
Common stock issued for consulting fees		20,111		—		150			—			—			—			150
Common stock and warrants issued for public offering, net of $744 transaction costs		1,006,250		1		7,305			—			—			—			7,306
Common stock issued for ATM share sales, net of $87 transaction costs		306,049		1		2,819			—			—			—			2,820
Common stock issued for director fees		5,171				23			—			—			—			23
Net loss		—		—		—			(17,112	)		—			—			(17,112	)
Balances, September 30, 2024		6,826,572	$	7	$	261,410		$	(240,327	)		29,419		$	(192	)	$	20,898
Balances, June 30, 2023		4,175,372	$	4	$	224,958		$	(208,642	)		25,532		$	(577	)	$	15,743
Stock-based compensation		—		—		593			—			—			—			593
Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting		33,202		—		(576	)		—			(4,104	)		61			(515	)
Common stock issued for public offering, net of $1,713 transaction costs		909,650		1		18,317			—			—			—			18,318
Common stock issued for Yulho agreement, net of $372 transaction costs		227,273		—		4,629			—			—			—			4,629
Warrant expense related to Yulho agreement		—		—		181			—			—			—			181
Common stock issued for ATM share sales, net of $31 transaction costs		41,730		—		1,005			—			—			—			1,005
Common stock issued for director fees		1,362		—		32			—			—			—			32
Net loss		—		—		—			(4,547	)		—			—			(4,547	)
Balances, September 30, 2023		5,388,589	$	5	$	249,139		$	(213,189	)		21,428		$	(516	)	$	35,439
Balances, December 31, 2022		3,974,088	$	4	$	220,189		$	(199,277	)		—		$	—		$	20,916
Stock-based compensation		—		—		1,878			—			—			—			1,878
RSUs issued for consulting services		789		—		12			—			—			—			12
Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting		77,240		—		(575	)		—			21,428			(516	)		(1,091	)
Common stock issued for public offering, net of $1,713 transaction costs		909,650		1		18,317			—			—			—			18,318
Common stock issued for Yulho agreement, net of $372 transaction costs		227,273		—		4,629			—			—			—			4,629
Warrant expense related to Yulho agreement		—		—		181			—			—			—			181
Common stock issued for employee stock purchase plan sales		9,635		—		122			—			—			—			122
Common stock issued for class action settlement		23,468		—		501			—			—			—			501
Common stock issued for ATM share sales, net of $119 transaction costs		162,215		—		3,789			—			—			—			3,789
Common stock issued for director fees		4,231		—		96			—			—			—			96
Net loss		—		—		—			(13,912	)		—			—			(13,912	)
Balances, September 30, 2023		5,388,589	$	5	$	249,139		$	(213,189	)		21,428		$	(516	)	$	35,439

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

3

AQUA METALS, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Unaudited

(in thousands)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(17,112	)	$	(13,912	)
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities
Depreciation and ROU asset amortization		867			770
Amortization of intellectual property		117			135
Fair value of common stock issued for director fees		23			96
Fair value of common stock issued for consulting services		150			12
Stock-based compensation		2,163			1,880
Warrant expense		—			181
Amortization of deferred financing costs		29			119
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment		448			(23	)
Inventory net realizable value adjustment		268			—
Write off of debt issuance costs		563			—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Proceeds from leasing of building		—			12,278
Accounts receivable		(419	)		(64	)
Inventory		330			(612	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		33			91
Accounts payable		(43	)		322
Accrued expenses		1,030			1,181
Other assets and liabilities		(84	)		(232	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(11,637	)		2,222
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(7,452	)		(6,142	)
Proceeds from sale of equipment		15			70
Proceeds from note receivable		350			—
Equipment deposits		(3,975	)		(222	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(11,062	)		(6,294	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants, net of transaction costs		7,306			22,947
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan		35			14
Payments on note payable		—			(6,000	)
Principal payments on finance leases		(58	)		—
Proceeds from note payable, net		—			2,931
Cash paid for tax withholdings on RSUs vesting		(552	)		(1,092	)
Debt issuance costs		(424	)		—
Proceeds from ATM, net		2,820			3,788
Net cash provided by financing activities		9,127			22,588
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(13,572	)		18,516
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		16,522			7,082
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	2,950		$	25,598

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023
Supplemental disclosure of cash flows information
Cash paid for income taxes	$	3	$	—
Cash paid for interest	$	249	$	399
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable	$	758	$	39
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment included in accrued expenses	$	646	$	674
Equity included in accrued expenses	$	—	$	608

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

AQUA METALS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

1. Organization

Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) is engaged in the business of applying its commercialized clean, water-based recycling technology principles to develop the clean and cost-efficient recycling solutions for both lead and lithium-ion (“Li”) batteries. Our recycling process is a patented hydro- and electrometallurgical technology that is an innovative, proprietary and patented process we developed and named AquaRefining. AquaRefining is a low-emissions, closed-loop recycling technology that replaces polluting furnaces and hazardous chemicals with electricity-powered electroplating to recover valuable metals and materials from spent batteries with higher purity, lower emissions, and with minimal waste. The modular “Aqualyzers” cleanly generate ultra-pure metal one atom at a time, closing the sustainability loop for the rapidly growing energy storage economy.

We are in the process of demonstrating that Li AquaRefining, which is fundamentally non-polluting, can create the highest quality and highest yields of recovered minerals from lithium-ion batteries with lower waste streams and lower costs than existing alternatives.

Our focus for the lead market is providing equipment and licensing of our lead acid battery recycling technologies in an enabler model which allows us to work with anyone in the industry globally and address the entire marketplace. Our focus for the lithium market includes operating our first-of-a-kind lithium battery recycling facility, utilizing electricity to recycle instead of intensive chemical processes, fossil fuels, or high-temperature furnaces and licensing.

Reverse Stock Split

Effective November 5, 2024, the Company effected a one-for-20 reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding common shares. Accordingly, all common share, stock option, per common share and warrant amounts for all periods presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retrospectively to reflect this reverse stock split.

Liquidity and Going Concern Assessment

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company reported a net loss of $17.1 million and $13.9 million, respectively, and negative cash from operations of $11.6 million and a cash inflow $2.2 million, respectively, including non-recurring proceeds of $12.3 million from the leasing and sale of the building during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. As of  September 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $3.0 million, current liabilities of $7.1 million and an accumulated deficit of $240.3 million. The Company's current liabilities of $7.1 million include the note payable with Summit Investment Services, LLC in the amount of approximately $3 million due on February 1, 2025 as disclosed in Note 10. The Company has not generated revenues from commercial operations and expects to continue incurring losses for the foreseeable future.

Management believes that the Company does not have sufficient capital resources to sustain operations through at least the next twelve months from the date of this filing. Additionally, in view of the Company’s expectation to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future it will be required to raise additional capital resources in order to fund its operations, although the availability of, and the Company’s access to such resources, is not assured. Accordingly, management believes that there is substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue operating as a going concern through the next twelve months from the date of this filing.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the assumption the Company will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts of liabilities that  may result from uncertainty related to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Reclassification of Prior Period Financial Statements

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment was presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations within loss from operations. This reclassification was made for the year ended December 31, 2023 and presented in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year then ended.

We have reclassified the prior period Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations included in this filing to conform to the current period presentation, as shown in the following table (in thousands):

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
	As Reported			Reclassification			As Reclassified
Operating cost and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment		—			(23	)		(23	)
Total operating expense	$	14,345		$	(23	)	$	14,322
Income (loss) from operations	$	(14,320	)	$	23		$	(14,297	)
Other income and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment		23			(23	)		—
Total other income (expense), net	$	408		$	(23	)	$	385

5

AQUA METALS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

The significant accounting policies and estimates used in preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements are described in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the notes thereto, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on March 28, 2024. There have been no material changes in the Company’s significant accounting policies during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Aqua Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “Aqua Metals”) have been prepared in accordance with the interim reporting requirements of Form 10-Q, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2023, which are included on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2024. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for annual consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly each of the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, the condensed consolidated statements of stockholders' equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, as applicable, have been made. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of such date, but it does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for annual presentation.

The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ending  December 31, 2024.

Principles of consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries. Inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount and valuation of long-lived assets, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, and the determination of stock-based compensation expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

6

AQUA METALS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Net loss per share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method or the if-converted method, as applicable. For purposes of this calculation, stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and warrants to purchase common stock are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is dilutive. The following shares underlying outstanding convertible notes, stock options, RSUs and warrants to purchase common stock were anti-dilutive due to a net loss in the periods presented and, therefore, were excluded from the dilutive weighted average securities computation for the three and nine months ended September 30, as indicated below:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
Excluded potentially dilutive weighted average securities (1):	2024		2023		2024		2023
Unvested restricted stock units		282,016		251,736		340,302		276,271
Options to purchase common stock		—		5,790		—		25,299
Financing warrants to purchase common stock		1,073,856		21,833		562,639		7,569
Total potential dilutive weighted average securities		1,355,872		279,359		902,941		309,139

(1) Securities are presented on a weighted average outstanding calculation as required if the securities were dilutive and adjusted to give effect to the November 4, 2024 reverse stock split.

Segment and geographic information

Our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is the Chief Executive Officer. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging in business activities for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by the CODM in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The CODM views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment.

Concentration of credit risk

The Company did not generate revenue during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company had no trade receivables as of  September 30, 2024 and  December 31, 2023. The accounts receivable balance on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of  September 30, 2024 consisted of proceeds from sale of raw materials and proceeds from a non-recurring engineering (NRE) arrangement with 6K Energy. The balance as of  December 31, 2023 consisted of proceeds from a NRE arrangement with 6K Energy.

7

AQUA METALS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Recent accounting pronouncements

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

In  November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (Topic 280). This ASU updates reportable segment disclosure requirements by requiring disclosures of significant reportable segment expenses that are regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of a segment's profit or loss. This ASU also requires disclosure of the title and position of the individual identified as the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measures of a segment’s profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after  December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after  December 15, 2024. Adoption of the ASU should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is also permitted. This ASU will likely result in us including the additional required disclosures when adopted. We are currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on the disclosures within our consolidated financial statements.

In  December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (Topic 740). The ASU requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as additional information on income taxes paid. The ASU is effective on a prospective basis for annual periods beginning after  December 15, 2024. Early adoption is also permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. This ASU will require additional disclosures in our consolidated financial statements, once adopted.

3. Revenue recognition

The Company has historically generated revenues by recycling lead acid batteries (“LABs”) and selling the recovered lead to its customers.

The Company was not in commercial production during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Historically, Company products transferred to customers at a single point in time accounted for 100% of its revenue. 

4. Note receivable

During the year ended  December 31, 2023, the Company sold its $2,000,000 stock investment in LINICO and recorded an impairment of $1,400,000 and a note receivable of $600,000. The proceeds will be received over a 12-month installment which began in  January 2024. The balance of the note receivable is $250,000 and $600,000 as of  September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

The Company accounted for the LINICO investment under ASC 321, Investments-Equity Securities, using the measurement alternative of recording at cost as the investment in LINICO doesn’t have a readily determinable fair value.

5. Inventory

Inventory consisted of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Work in process	$	—	$	135
Raw materials		330		794
Total inventory	$	330	$	929

We write-down inventory when evidence exists that the net realizable value of inventory is less than the cost. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we recorded write-downs of $268,000 which were included in plant operations in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

8

AQUA METALS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

6. Property, plant and equipment, net

Property, plant and equipment, net, consisted of the following (in thousands):

	Useful Life
Asset Class	(Years)		September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
Operational equipment		3 - 10	$	3,551		$	3,581
Lab equipment		5		1,128			817
Computer equipment		3		107			89
Office furniture and equipment		3		87			90
Leasehold improvements		2.5		80			80
Land		-		1,141			1,141
Building		39		3,131			3,131
Equipment under construction				9,643			3,047
				18,868			11,976
Less: accumulated depreciation				(2,253	)		(1,629	)
Total property, plant and equipment, net			$	16,615		$	10,347

Property, plant and equipment depreciation expense was $229,000 and $682,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and $254,000 and $591,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. Equipment under construction is comprised of our lithium-ion battery recycling commercial equipment along with various components being manufactured or installed by the Company.

7. Other assets

Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Equipment deposits (1)	$	6,920	$	4,291
Nevada facilities Right of Use Assets (2)		600		222
Other assets		20		160
Total other assets, non-current	$	7,540	$	4,673

(1) Deposits for equipment to be acquired and utilized at the Company's Phase One build-out of our recycling campus at Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (TRIC). 

(2) See Footnote 9.

8. Accrued expenses

Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Property, plant and equipment related	$	674	$	1,857
Payroll related		1,359		506
Professional services		90		26
Other		191		78
Total accrued expenses	$	2,314	$	2,467

9

AQUA METALS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

9. Leases

As of September 30, 2024, the Company maintained two finance leases for equipment and two operating leases for real estate. The operating leases have current terms of 36 and 37 months and include one or more options to extend the duration of the agreements. These operating leases are included in "Other assets" on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets and represent the Company's right to use the underlying assets for the term of the leases. The Company's obligation to make lease payments are included in "Lease liability, current portion" and "Lease liability, non-current portion" on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. 

On  March 14, 2024, the Company extended its operating lease for its headquarters located at 5370 Kietzke Lane, Reno, NV. The lease extension was determined to be a lease modification that qualified as a change of accounting on the existing lease and not a separate contract. As such, the Right-of-Use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities were remeasured using an incremental borrowing rate at the date of modification of 9.61%, which resulted in an increase of the ROU asset of $170,000 and an increase in the operating lease liabilities of $166,000.

On June 9, 2024, the Company extended its operating lease for its Innovation Center located at 160 Denmark Dr, McCarran, NV. The lease extension was determined to be a lease modification that qualified as a change of accounting on the existing lease and not a separate contract. As such, the Right-of-Use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities were remeasured using an incremental borrowing rate at the date of modification of 9.52%, which resulted in an increase of the ROU asset of $347,000 and an increase in the operating lease liabilities of $324,000.

The Company currently maintains two finance leases for equipment. In November 2021, the Company entered into a finance lease for a modular laboratory which expires in October 2024. On April 1, 2024 the Company entered into a finance lease for laboratory equipment which expires in 2029. 

Information related to the Company's right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Cash paid for operating lease liabilities	$	68	$	66	$	204	$	199
Operating lease cost	$	72	$	65	$	210	$	196
Cash paid for finance lease liabilities	$	25	$	15	$	64	$	46
Interest expense	$	2	$	2	$	6	$	5

	September 30, 2024			September 30, 2023
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - operating leases		2.4			1.1
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases		10.48	%		6.17	%
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - finance leases		2.3			1.1
Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases		4.59	%		8.17	%
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases	$	600		$	—

Future maturities of lease liabilities as of September 30, 2024 are as follows (in thousands):

Due in 12-month period ended September 30,
	Operating Leases			Finance Leases
2024	$	71		$	16
2025		291			47
2026		182			47
2027		149			48
Thereafter		—			60
Less imputed interest		(84	)		(21	)
Total lease liabilities	$	609		$	197
Current lease liabilities	$	242		$	44
Non-current lease liabilities		367			153
Total lease liabilities	$	609		$	197

10

AQUA METALS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

10. Note payable

On February 1, 2023, Aqua Metals Reno, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a Loan Agreement with Summit Investment Services, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (the “Lender”), pursuant to which the Lender provided us with a loan in the amount of $3 million. The loan proceeds were used to purchase a building located at 2999 Waltham Way McCarran, NV 89434 (the “Building”). The loan accrues interest at a fixed annual rate of 9.50%. Interest-only payments are due monthly for the first twenty-four months and the principal and all unpaid interest is due on February 1, 2025. We have the right to prepay the loan at any time, provided that we must pay guaranteed minimum interest of $213,750 (9-months of interest). The Loan Agreement includes representations, warranties, and affirmative and negative covenants that are customary of institutional loan agreements. As of  September 30, 2024 and  December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all of the covenants. The loan is collateralized by a first priority lien on the building and site improvements, and is guaranteed by Aqua Metals, Inc.

Note payable is comprised of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
Note payable, current portion
Summit Investment Services, LLC	$	3,000		$	35
Less issuance costs		(12	)		—
Total note payable, current portion	$	2,988		$	35
Note payable, non-current portion
Summit Investment Services, LLC	$	—		$	3,000
Less issuance costs		—			(77	)
Total note payable, non-current portion	$	—		$	2,923

11. Stockholders’ equity

Shares issued

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 129,857 shares of common stock upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") granted by the Company to management and employees, including 44,261 of reissued treasury stock. We withheld 52,252 shares to satisfy approximately $552,000 of employees’ tax obligations during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. We treat shares of common stock withheld for tax purposes on behalf of our employees in connection with the vesting of RSUs in a similar manner as common stock repurchases and reported as treasury stock. 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 20,111 shares of common stock for consulting services.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 7,330 shares of common stock upon vesting of RSUs granted to Board members.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 5,171 shares of common stock to Board members related to director fees.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 6,607 shares of common stock to a former employee related to a severance agreement.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 3,444 shares of common stock pursuant to the employee stock purchase plan.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 306,049 shares of common stock pursuant to the at the market issuance sales agreement for net proceeds of $2.8 million.

In May 2024, the Company completed a public offering of 1,006,250 shares of its common stock at the public offering price of $7.80 per share. In connection with the sale of common stock, the Company issued warrants to purchase shares of common stock at the rate of one warrant for every share of purchased common stock, at the offering price of $0.20 per warrant. After the deduction of the underwriter’s discount and expenses payable by us, we received net proceeds of $7.3 million. The Company used the relative fair value method to allocate the net proceeds of approximately $7.3 million between the common stock and the warrants. As presented below, the Company recorded the fair value of the warrants of $3.1 million and common stock of $4.2 million.

11

AQUA METALS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 70,694 shares of common stock upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") granted by the Company to management and employees, including 25,532 of reissued treasury stock. We withheld 46,960 shares to satisfy approximately $1,091,000 of employees’ tax obligations during the nine months ended  September 30, 2023. We treat shares of common stock withheld for tax purposes on behalf of our employees in connection with the vesting of RSUs in a similar manner as common stock repurchases and reported as treasury stock. 

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 6,546 shares of common stock upon vesting of RSUs granted to Board members.

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 789 shares of common stock to a former Board member to fulfill obligations related to consulting services.

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 4,231 shares of common stock to a Board member related to director fees.

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 23,468 shares of common stock upon the settlement of the securities class action lawsuit.

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 9,635 shares of common stock pursuant to the employee stock purchase plan.

In  July 2023, the Company completed a public offering of 909,650 shares of its common stock, for net proceeds of $18.3 million.

In  August 2023, the Company issued 227,273 shares of its common stock pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Yulho SPA”), with Yulho Co, Ltd., for net proceeds of $4.6 million.

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 162,215 shares of common stock pursuant to the At The Market Issuance Sales Agreement for net proceeds of $3.8 million.

Warrant issued

In connection with the above-described May 2024 public offering, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 39,125 shares of the Company's common stock to the underwriter of the Company's public offering, equal to 2% of the shares and the number of shares underlying the warrants sold in the offering, for relative fair value of $0.1 million. The warrants are exercisable at $9.75 per share on the closing date,  May 14, 2024. The warrants have an expiration date of 5 years from the date of issuance and will expire on  May 14, 2029. The relative fair value of the warrants was recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet in additional paid-in capital in stockholders' equity as the warrants are indexed to the Company’s common stock and meet the conditions for equity classification.

In May 2024, in conjunction with the Company's public offering, the Company issued a warrant to purchase up to 1,006,250 shares of the Company's common stock, for the relative fair value of $3 million. The warrants are exercisable at $7.80 per share. The warrants have an expiration date of 5 years from the date of issuance and will expire on May 14, 2029. The relative fair value of the warrants was recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet in additional paid-in capital in stockholders' equity as the warrants are indexed to the Company’s common stock and meet the conditions for equity classification.

In  July 2023, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 18,193 shares of the Company's common stock to the underwriter of the Company's public offering, equal to 2% of the 909,650 shares sold. The warrants are exercisable at $27.50 per share, commencing six months after  July 17, 2023. The warrants have an expiration date of 5 years from the date of issuance and will expire on   July 17, 2028.

In  August 2023, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 10,288 shares of the Company's common stock to the underwriter of the transaction in connection with the Yulho SPA. The warrants have an expiration date of 5 years from the date of issuance and are exercisable immediately at $25 per share. The warrant will expire on  August 4, 2028.

Stock-based compensation

The stock-based compensation expense was allocated as follows:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Plant operations	$	28	$	35	$	213	$	82
Research and development cost		6		8		42		48
General and administrative expense		604		551		1,908		1,750
Total	$	638	$	594	$	2,163	$	1,880

12

AQUA METALS, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

2019 Stock Incentive Plan

In 2019, our board of directors adopted the Aqua Metals, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”). On May 23, 2024, 475,000 shares of common stock was authorized and added to the plan. A total of 1,400,000 shares of common stock was authorized for issuance pursuant to the 2019 Plan. The 2019 Plan provides for the following types of stock-based awards: incentive stock options; non-statutory stock options; restricted stock; and performance stock. The 2019 Plan, under which equity incentives may be granted to employees and directors under incentive and non-statutory agreements, requires that the option price may not be less than the fair value of the stock at the date the option is granted. Option awards are exercisable until their expiration, which may not exceed 10 years from the grant date. As of  September 30, 2024, there were 570,743 remaining shares available for future grants.

	Number of Shares			Number of
	Available for			RSUs
	Grant			Outstanding
Balances, December 31, 2023		71,023			432,725
Granted		(57,126	)		57,126
Exercised/ Released		—			(169,075	)
Forfeited		61,081			(61,081	)
Returned to Plan		52,251			—
Addition to 2019 Plan		475,000			—
Expiration of 2014 Plan		(31,486	)		—
Balances, September 30, 2024		570,743			259,695

Restricted stock units

During the first quarter of 2024, the Company granted 5,576 RSUs, all of which were subject to vesting, with a grant date fair value of $60,000 to employees. The shares vest in three equal installments over a three-year period.

During the second quarter of 2024, the Company granted 6,250 RSUs, all of which were subject to vesting, with a grant date fair value of $40,000 to employees. The shares vest in three equal installments over a three-year period.

During the third quarter of 2024, the Company granted 18,582 RSUs, all of which were subject to vesting, with a grant date fair value of $83,000 to Board Members. The shares vest in four equal installments with the first installment vesting immediately and the remaining three installments vesting over a nine-month period.

During the third quarter of 2024, the Company granted 20,111 RSUs, all of which were vested immediately, with a fair value of $150,000 for consulting fees.

During the third quarter of 2024, the Company granted 6,607 RSUs, all of which were vested immediately, with a fair value of $28,000 to an employee upon termination of a severance agreement. 

12. Commitments and contingencies

We  may, from time to time, be party to litigation and subject to claims incident to the ordinary course of business. As we grow, we  may become party to an increasing number of litigation matters and claims. The outcome of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, and the resolution of any future matters could materially affect our future financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We are not party to any legal proceedings that, if determined adversely to us, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

13. Subsequent events

On November 4, 2024, the Company implemented a one-for-twenty (1-for-20) reverse split of our common stock. Prior to the reverse stock split the Company had 137,635,801 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, and after the reverse stock split, the Company had approximately 6,881,790 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. All share and per-share amounts included in this Form 10-Q are presented as if the stock split had been effective from the beginning of the earliest period presented.

13

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Cautionary Statement

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto contained elsewhere in this report. The information contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q is not a complete description of our business or the risks associated with an investment in our common stock. We urge you to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this report and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024, or our Annual Report.

In this report we make, and from time to time we otherwise make written and oral statements regarding our business and prospects, such as projections of future performance, statements of management’s plans and objectives, forecasts of market trends, and other matters that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements containing the words or phrases “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimates,” “projects,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “target,” “goal,” “plans,” “objective,” “should” or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which may appear in our documents, reports, filings with the SEC, and news releases, and in written or oral presentations made by officers or other representatives to analysts, stockholders, investors, news organizations and others, and in discussions with management and other of our representatives.

Our future results, including results related to forward-looking statements, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those risks included below in Part II, Item 1 “Risk Factors”. No assurance can be given that the results reflected in any forward-looking statements will be achieved. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. Our forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are sometimes based upon estimates, data, communications and other information from suppliers, government agencies and other sources that may be subject to revision. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or keep current either (i) any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date of such statement or (ii) the important factors that could cause our future results to differ materially from historical results or trends, results anticipated or planned by us, or which are reflected from time to time in any forward-looking statement.

Reverse Stock Split

Effective November 5, 2024, the Company effected a one-for-20 reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding common shares. Accordingly, all common share, stock option, per common share and warrant amounts for all periods presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retrospectively to reflect this reverse stock split.

General

Aqua Metals is engaged in the business of applying its commercialized clean, water-based, recycling technology principles to develop cost-efficient recycling solutions for both lead and lithium-ion (“Li”) batteries. Our recycling process is a patented hydro and electrometallurgical technology that is an innovative, proprietary and patented process we developed and named AquaRefining. AquaRefining is a low-emissions, closed-loop recycling technology that has the potential to replace polluting furnaces and hazardous chemicals with electricity-powered electroplating to recover valuable metals and materials from spent batteries with higher purity, lower emissions, and with minimal waste. The modular “Aqualyzers” cleanly generate ultra-pure metal one atom at a time, closing the sustainability loop for the rapidly growing energy storage economy.

This breakthrough technology was initially applied in the lead acid battery (LAB) recycling industry, building the first integrated recycling system for breaking LAB and recovering pure metal. In 2019, we operated our demonstration AquaRefinery at commercial quantity production levels and produced over 35,000 ‘AquaRefined’ ingots operating twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for sustained periods of time.

 We are also applying our commercialized clean, water-based recycling technology principles with the goal of developing the cleanest and most cost-efficient recycling solution for lithium-ion batteries. We believe our process has the potential to produce higher quality products at a lower operating cost without the damaging effects of furnaces and greenhouse emissions. 

In February 2021, we announced our entry into the lithium-ion battery (LiB) recycling market through a key provisional patent we filed that applies the same innovative AquaRefining approach. In August 2021, we announced we had established our Innovation Center in TRIC focused on applying our proven technology to LiB recycling research and development and prototyping. Our strategic decision to apply our proven clean, closed-loop hydrometallurgical and electrochemical recycling experience to lithium-ion battery recycling is designed to meet the growing demand for critical metals driven by the global transition to electric vehicles; growth in internet data centers; and alternative energy applications including solar, wind, and grid-scale storage.

During the first half of 2022, we announced our ability to recover copper, lithium hydroxide, nickel, and cobalt from lithium-ion battery ‘black mass’ at bench scale at the Company’s Innovation Center. During 2022, we built our fully-integrated pilot system, located within the Company’s Innovation Center, which is designed to allow Aqua Metals to be the first company in North America to recycle battery minerals from black mass, sell them in the U.S. and position the Company as the first LiB recycler in North America to align with the U.S. government’s goal of retaining strategic battery minerals within the domestic supply chain.

During 2022, we conducted environmental comparisons based on Argonne National Lab’s modeling of lithium battery supply chains – called EverBatt. The initial results indicate that AquaRefining is a cleaner approach to LiB recycling, producing far less CO2 waste streams than smelting or chemical-driven hydrometallurgical processes currently on the market. In December 2022, we completed equipment installation and began to operate our first-of-a-kind LiB recycling facility, utilizing electricity as the catalyst to recycle instead of intensive chemical processes, fossil fuels, or high-temperature furnaces. In January 2023, Aqua Metals recovered its first metals from recycling lithium batteries using the patent-pending Li AquaRefining process.

14

In February 2023, we acquired a five-acre recycling campus at the TRIC. When fully developed, the facility we design will process up to 10,000 tonnes of lithium-ion battery material each year using our proprietary Li AquaRefining technology. Subject to our receipt of the required additional capital, we expect to complete development of phase one. The Company is planning for a phased development of the campus, beginning with the already commenced redevelopment of an existing building on-site into the first commercial-scale Li AquaRefinery, targeting 3,000 tons per annum (tpa) capacity in phase one. In the first half of 2024, we made significant progress on the construction of the planned first phase of the commercial Li AquaRefinery and we continue to pursue the required funding for the completion of the phase one development of our five‑acre recycling campus through various sources, including debt, project finance, joint venture and strategic investment options. 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we issued 306,049 shares of common stock pursuant to an at the market issuance sales agreement ("ATM") for net proceeds of $2.8 million. On May 14, 2024, we completed a public offering of 1,006,250 shares of our common stock, at the public offering price of $7.80 per share. In connection with the sale of common stock, the Company issued warrants to purchase shares of common stock at the rate of one warrant for every share of purchased common stock, at the price of $0.20 per share. After the deduction of the underwriter’s discount and expenses payable by us, we received net proceeds of $7.3 million. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we issued 162,215 shares of common stock pursuant to an at the market issuance sales agreement for net proceeds of $3.8 million. We raised a net of $18.3 million in the third quarter of 2023 from the public offering of our common shares and a net of $4.6 million from the sale of our common stock to Yulho.

Our current focus is building and operating our first-of-a-kind lithium battery recycling facility, utilizing electricity to recycle instead of intensive chemical processes, fossil fuels, or high-temperature furnaces. We are also pursuing potential partnership and/or joint ventures agreements and licensing agreements, particularly as our Li AquaRefining continues to develop and improve. We believe that Aqua Metals is in a position to become one of the few critical minerals recovery players for which our environmental and economic value proposition should generate both great commercial wins and potentially government grants to accelerate our credibility and progress.

Plan of Operations

Our business strategy is based on the pursuit of building, operating and licensing Li AquaRefining recycling capacity to meet the growing demand for critical metals in lithium-ion batteries driven by innovations in automobile batteries, growth in internet data centers, and alternative energy applications, including solar, wind, and grid-scale storage.

We are in the process of demonstrating that Li AquaRefining, which is fundamentally non-polluting, can create the highest quality and highest yields of recovered minerals from lithium-ion batteries with lower waste streams and lower costs than existing alternatives. We have already demonstrated at our pilot facility our ability to recover key valuable minerals in lithium-ion batteries, such as lithium hydroxide, copper, nickel, cobalt, and other compounds. Our goal is to recycle commercial quantities of nickel, cobalt, and copper in a pure metal form that can be sold to the general metals and superalloy markets and can be made into battery precursor compound materials with known processes already used in the mining industry. We also intend to recycle commercial amounts of lithium that can be sold to lithium-ion battery manufacturers. We have installed, commissioned, and operated our pilot plant since December of 2022. During the first half of 2024 we have been building a commercial demonstration plant operation with capacity of processing approximately 3,000 tonnes of black mass per year. The location for the pilot demonstration is currently the Innovation Center with the commercial demonstration plant to be constructed at our 5-acre recycling campus starting with processing ~3,000 tonnes of black mass per year and growing to commercial quantities of ~10,000 tonnes per year or more of production. Equipment installation and construction at the demonstration plant is currently paused. These activities will resume once the company obtains funding. The remaining construction and installation are expected to take approximately 6 months from the date of funding.

15

Results of Operations

We did not engage in commercial operations in 2024 and 2023. Our operations have been devoted to developing our Li AquaRefining battery recycling technology. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, Aqua Metals was focused on the continued operation of the pilot facility and the build out of our commercial facility. We did not earn any revenue during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. The following table summarizes our results of operations with respect to the items set forth below for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 together with the dollar and percentage changes in those items (in thousands).

	Three Months Ended September 30,										Nine Months Ended September 30,
					Favorable			%								Favorable			%
	2024		2023		(Unfavorable)			Change			2024		2023			(Unfavorable)			Change
Product sales	$	—	$	25	$	(25	)		(100.0	)%	$	—	$	25		$	(25	)		(100.0	)%
Plant operations		1,617		1,770		153			(8.6	)%		6,198		4,316			(1,882	)		43.6	%
Research and development cost		398		389		(9	)		2.3	%		1,349		1,359			10			(0.7	)%
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment		448		—		(448	)		100.0	%		448		(23	)		(471	)		(2047.8	)%
General and administrative expense		2,748		2,815		67			(2.4	)%		9,170		8,670			(500	)		5.8	%
Total operating expense	$	5,211	$	4,974	$	(237	)		4.8	%	$	17,165	$	14,322		$	(2,843	)		19.9	%

Plant operations include materials, supplies related costs, salaries and benefits, consulting, outside services costs, inventory adjustments, depreciation, amortization, insurance, travel and overhead costs. Plant operations decreased approximately $153,000 or 8.6% and increased $1,882,000, or 43.6%, for the for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 as compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. The decrease in plant operations for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was primarily due to a decrease in payroll and payroll related fees of approximately $189,000, as we completed a reduction of force during August 2024. Management does not expect the reduction in force to materially impact its current pilot operations or continuing research and development. However, during the fourth quarter 2024 and until funding is received, we expect reduced employee and overhead expense. The severance and other non-recurring expenses related to the reduction in force were not material. The increase in plant operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was primarily due to an increase in payroll and payroll related fees of approximately $1,283,000, as we hired additional staff and we engaged our lab and engineering staff in operating the pilot facility and processing black mass, as well as $261,000 in supplies and materials, $167,000 increase in insurance expenses and $129,000 in professional fees. These increases occurred prior to the workforce reduction in August 2024.

Research and development cost includes expenditures related to the improvement of the AquaRefining technology and the development of our lithium-ion battery recycling process. During the three months ended September 30, 2024, research and development costs increased $9,000, or approximately 2.3%, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, research and developments costs decreased $10,000, or approximately 0.7%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

We recognized a loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment of $448,000 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to a gain of $23,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the loss on property, plant and equipment resulted from the sale of fixed assets. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the gain on property, plant and equipment resulted from the sales of fixed assets.

General and administrative expense decreased $67,000, or approximately 2.4%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023 and an increase $500,000, or approximately 5.8%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2023. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was driven by the write off of the debt issuance costs of $563,000, previously representing a deferred asset.

The following table summarizes our other income and interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 together with the dollar and percentage changes in those items (in thousands).

	Three Months Ended September 30,												Nine Months Ended September 30,
							Favorable			%									Favorable			%
	2024			2023			(Unfavorable)			Change			2024			2023			(Unfavorable)			Change
Interest expense	$	(83	)	$	(87	)	$	4			(4.6	)%		(273	)		(518	)		245			(47.3	)%
Interest and other income		84			489			(405	)		(82.8	)%		329			903			(574	)		(63.6	)%
Total other income, net	$	1		$	402		$	(401	)		(99.8	)%	$	56		$	385		$	(329	)		(85.5	)%

The decrease in interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 is due to the reduction on the note payable outstanding balance. 

We recognized approximately $84,000 and $329,000 in interest and other income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, a decrease of $405,000 and $574,000 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. The decrease in interest and other income is primarily due to the decrease in miscellaneous income from the non-recurring engineering agreement with 6K Energy.

16

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had total assets of $28.5 million.

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $3.0 million, current liabilities of $7.1 million and a working capital deficit of $2.9 million. The Company's current liabilities of $7.1 million include the note payable with Summit Investment Services, LLC in the amount of approximately $3 million due on February 1, 2025 as disclosed in Note 10. The Company has not generated revenues from commercial operations and expects to continue incurring losses for the foreseeable future. In order to satisfy our capital requirements, the Company will need to improve its liquidity position through equity or debt financings and/or reductions in operating costs, in order to satisfy its liquidity needs for the next twelve months. Management is devoting significant efforts to increasing liquidity, raising capital and developing its business. 

Management believes that the Company does not have sufficient capital resources to sustain operations through at least the next twelve months from the date of this filing. Additionally, in view of the Company’s expectation to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future, and its current working capital deficit, it will be required to raise additional capital resources in order to fund its operations, although the availability of, and the Company’s access to such resources, is not assured. Accordingly, management believes that there is substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue operating as a going concern through the next twelve months from the date of this filing.

The following table summarizes our cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities (in thousands):

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024			2023
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	(11,637	)	$	2,222
Net cash used in investing activities	$	(11,062	)	$	(6,294	)
Net cash provided by financing activities	$	9,127		$	22,588

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

Net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $11,637,000. Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $2,222,000 which includes approximately $12,278,000 of cash received related to our lease receivable offset by operating expenses. Net cash used in or provided by operating activities during each of these periods consisted primarily of our net loss adjusted for non-cash items such as depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, and gain on the disposal of property, plant and equipment, as well as net changes in working capital.

Net cash used in investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $11,062,000 and consisted mainly of cash utilized towards equipment deposits of $3,975,000 and purchases of fixed assets related to the build out of our commercial facility of $7,452,000, offset by $350,000 of cash received related to our note receivable. Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $6,294,000 and consisted mainly of $4,300,000 utilized towards the purchase of the building located at 2999 Waltham Way McCarran, NV 89434 and $1,800,000 utilized towards purchases of fixed assets.

Net cash provided by financing activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $9,127,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, consisting of $2,820,000 in net proceeds from the sale of Aqua Metals shares pursuant to the at-the-market offering, or ATM, and $7,306,000 in net proceeds from our May 2024 public offering, offset by $552,000 related to tax withholdings to cover RSU vesting and $424,000 related to debt issuance costs. Net cash provided by financing activities of $22,588,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was approximately $3,788,000 in net proceeds from the sale of Aqua Metals shares pursuant to the at-the-market offering, or ATM, and $2,931,000 in net proceeds from the loan agreement secured with the Summit Investment Services, LLC and $18.3 million in net proceeds from our July 2023 public offering and $4.6 million in net proceeds from the Yulho transaction, offset by the $6,000,000 used to pay off the note payable and $1,092,000 related to tax withholdings to cover RSU vesting.

17

Critical Accounting Estimates

No material changes from what was reported in the 2023 Form 10-K.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Not applicable.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on that evaluation, management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2024.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three month period ended September 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

18

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes certain risk factors that could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. There have been no material changes to those risk factors, except as described below:

We will need additional financing to execute our business plan and fund operations, which additional financing may not be available on reasonable terms or at all. As of September 30, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $3.0 million, current liabilities of $7.1 million and a working capital deficit of $2.9 million. As of the date of this report, we believe that we will require additional capital in order to fund our current level of ongoing costs and our proposed business plan over the next 12 months as we move forward with our business strategy. We intend to acquire the necessary capital though debt financing or through the sale of equity. Funding that includes the sale of our equity may be dilutive. If such funding is not available on satisfactory terms, we may be unable to further pursue our business plan and we may be unable to continue operations, in which case you may lose your entire investment. In addition, our current liabilities of $7.1 million include the note payable with Summit Investment Services, LLC in the amount of approximately $3 million due on February 1, 2025 as disclosed in Note 10. The Summit Investment note is secured by a first priority lien on our facility and site improvements located at our TRIC recycling facility. In the event of our inability to repay or refinance the Summit Investment note, the lender could commence foreclosure action against our recycling facility.

The report of our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2023 states that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued.

19

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description	Method of Filing
3.1	First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant	Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 9, 2015.
3.2	Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant	Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 21, 2022.
3.3	Certificate of Amendment to First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant	Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 25, 2015.
3.4	Certificate of Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation	Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2019
3.5	Certificate of Amendment to the First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation	Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 21, 2022
31.1	Certifications Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	Filed electronically herewith
31.2	Certifications Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	Filed electronically herewith
32.1	Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350).	Filed electronically herewith
101.INS	Inline XBRL Instance Document	Filed electronically herewith
101.SCH	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document	Filed electronically herewith
101.CAL	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document	Filed electronically herewith
101.LAB	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document	Filed electronically herewith
101.PRE	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document	Filed electronically herewith
101.DEF	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document	Filed electronically herewith
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

20

SIGNATURES

In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

		AQUA METALS, INC.
Date:	November 14, 2024	By:	/s/ Stephen Cotton
			Stephen Cotton,
			President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
Date:	November 14, 2024	By:	/s/ Judd Merrill
			Judd Merrill,
			Chief Financial Officer
			(Principal Financial Officer)

21

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Section 302 Certification

I, Stephen Cotton, certify that:

1) I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Aqua Metals, Inc.;

2) Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3) Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4) The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s fiscal quarter presented in this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5) The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	November 14, 2024	By:	/s/ Stephen Cotton
			Stephen Cotton, President and CEO (Principal Executive Officer)

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

Section 302 Certification

I, Judd Merrill, certify that:

1) I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Aqua Metals, Inc.;

2) Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3) Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4) The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s fiscal quarter presented in this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5) The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	November 14, 2024	By:	/s/ Judd Merrill
			Judd Merrill, CFO (Principal Financial Officer)

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Aqua Metals, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), we, Stephen Cotton, President and CEO, and Judd Merrill, CFO, of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

By:	/s/ Stephen Cotton	Dated:	November 14, 2024
	Stephen Cotton
Title:	President and CEO (Principal Executive Officer)
By:	/s/ Judd Merrill	Dated:	November 14, 2024
	Judd Merrill
Title:	CFO (Principal Financial Officer)

This certification is made solely for the purposes of 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, subject to the knowledge standard contained therein, and not for any other purpose.

XML

Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Nov. 12, 2024
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Central Index Key	0001621832
Entity Registrant Name	Aqua Metals, Inc.
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2024
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2024
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-37515
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	47-1169572
Entity Address, Address Line One	5370 Kietzke Lane, Suite 201
Entity Address, City or Town	Reno
Entity Address, State or Province	NV
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	89511
City Area Code	775
Local Phone Number	446-4418
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	AQMS
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		7,131,786

XML

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,950	$ 16,522
Note receivable - LINICO	250	600
Accounts receivable	486	67
Inventory	330	929
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	148	181
Total current assets	4,164	18,299
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	16,615	10,347
Intellectual property, net	164	281
Other assets	7,540	4,673
Total non-current assets	24,319	15,301
Total assets	28,483	33,600
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	1,477	1,836
Accrued Expenses	2,314	2,467
Lease liability, current portion	286	275
Note payable, current portion	2,988	35
Total current liabilities	7,065	4,613
Lease liability, non-current portion	520	0
Note payable, non-current portion	0	2,923
Total liabilities	7,585	7,536
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 12)
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock; $0.001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 6,855,991 and 6,826,572, shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2024, respectively and 5,415,433 and 5,394,005 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023, respectively	7	5
Additional paid-in capital	261,410	249,790
Accumulated deficit	(240,327)	(223,215)
Treasury stock, at cost; common shares: 29,419 and 21,428 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively	(192)	(516)
Total stockholders’ equity	20,898	26,064
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 28,483	$ 33,600

XML

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) - $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	300,000,000	300,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	6,855,991	5,415,433
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	6,826,572	5,394,005
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares (in shares)	29,419	21,428

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Product Sales	$ 0	$ 25	$ 0	$ 25
Operating cost and expense
Plant operations	1,617	1,770	6,198	4,316
Research and development cost	398	389	1,349	1,359
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment	448	0	448	(23)
General and administrative expense	2,748	2,815	9,170	8,670
Total operating expense	5,211	4,974	17,165	14,322
Loss from operations	(5,211)	(4,949)	(17,165)	(14,297)
Other income and expense
Interest expense	(83)	(87)	(273)	(518)
Interest and other income	84	489	329	903
Total other income, net	1	402	56	385
Loss before income tax expense	(5,210)	(4,547)	(17,109)	(13,912)
Income tax expense	0	0	3	0
Net loss	$ (5,210)	$ (4,547)	$ (17,112)	$ (13,912)
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted (in shares)	6,816,190	5,080,889	6,171,512	4,455,199
Basic and diluted net loss per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.76)	$ (0.89)	$ (2.77)	$ (3.12)

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	ATM [Member] Common Stock Outstanding [Member]	ATM [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	ATM [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	ATM [Member] Treasury Stock, Common [Member]	ATM [Member]	Public Offering [Member] Common Stock Outstanding [Member]	Public Offering [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Public Offering [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Public Offering [Member] Treasury Stock, Common [Member]	Public Offering [Member]	Yulho agreement [Member] Common Stock Outstanding [Member]	Yulho agreement [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Yulho agreement [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Yulho agreement [Member] Treasury Stock, Common [Member]	Yulho agreement [Member]	Common Stock Outstanding [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock, Common [Member]	Total
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022																3,974,088			0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022																$ 4	$ 220,189	$ (199,277)	$ 0	$ 20,916
Stock-based compensation																$ 0	1,878	0	$ 0	1,878
Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting (in shares)																77,240			21,428
Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting																$ 0	(575)	0	$ (516)	(1,091)
Common stock issued for consulting fees (in shares)																789
Common stock issued for consulting fees																$ 0	12	0	$ 0	12
Common stock and warrants issued, net of transaction costs (in shares)	162,215				162,215	909,650			0		227,273			0		4,231			0
Common stock and warrants issued, net of transaction costs	$ 0	$ 3,789	$ 0	$ 0	$ 3,789	$ 1	$ 18,317	$ 0	$ 0	$ 18,318	$ 0	$ 4,629	$ 0	$ 0	$ 4,629	$ 0	96	0	$ 0	96
Net loss																$ 0	0	(13,912)	0	$ (13,912)
Common stock issued for employee stock purchase plan sales (in shares)																9,635				9,635
Common stock issued for employee stock purchase plan sales																$ 0	122	0	0	$ 122
Stock-based compensation																0	1,878	0	0	1,878
Warrant expense related to Yulho agreement																$ 0	181	0	0	$ 181
Common stock issued for class action settlement (in shares)																23,468				23,468
Common stock issued for class action settlement																$ 0	501	0	$ 0	$ 501
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023																5,388,589			21,428
Balance at Sep. 30, 2023																$ 5	249,139	(213,189)	$ (516)	35,439
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023																4,175,372			25,532
Balance at Jun. 30, 2023																$ 4	224,958	(208,642)	$ (577)	15,743
Stock-based compensation																$ 0	593	0	$ 0	593
Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting (in shares)																33,202			(4,104)
Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting																$ 0	(576)	0	$ 61	(515)
Common stock and warrants issued, net of transaction costs (in shares)	41,730					909,650			0		227,273			0		1,362			0
Common stock and warrants issued, net of transaction costs	$ 0	1,005	0	0	$ 1,005	$ 1	18,317	0	$ 0	18,318	$ 0	$ 4,629	$ 0	$ 0	$ 4,629	$ 0	32	0	$ 0	32
Net loss																0	0	(4,547)	0	(4,547)
Stock-based compensation																0	593	0	0	593
Warrant expense related to Yulho agreement																$ 0	181	0	$ 0	181
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023																5,388,589			21,428
Balance at Sep. 30, 2023																$ 5	249,139	(213,189)	$ (516)	35,439
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023																5,394,005			21,428
Balance at Dec. 31, 2023																$ 5	249,790	(223,215)	$ (516)	26,064
Stock-based compensation																$ 0	2,163	0	$ 0	2,163
Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting (in shares)																91,542			7,991
Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting																$ 0	(875)	0	$ 324	$ (551)
Common stock issued for consulting fees (in shares)																20,111				20,111
Common stock issued for consulting fees																$ 0	150	0	0	$ 150
Common stock and warrants issued, net of transaction costs (in shares)	306,049				306,049	1,006,250										5,171
Common stock and warrants issued, net of transaction costs	$ 1	2,819	0	0	$ 2,820	$ 1	$ 7,305	$ 0	$ 0	$ 7,306							23	0	0	23
Net loss																$ 0	0	(17,112)	0	$ (17,112)
Common stock issued for employee stock purchase plan sales (in shares)																3,444				3,444
Common stock issued for employee stock purchase plan sales																$ 0	35	0	0	$ 35
Stock-based compensation																$ 0	2,163	0	$ 0	2,163
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2024																6,826,572			29,419
Balance at Sep. 30, 2024																$ 7	261,410	(240,327)	$ (192)	20,898
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2024																6,690,027			22,832
Balance at Jun. 30, 2024																$ 7	260,681	(235,117)	$ (360)	25,211
Stock-based compensation																$ 0	638	0	0	638
Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting (in shares)																57,183
Common stock issued to employees and directors, includes RSUs vesting and withholdings to satisfy tax withholdings on RSUs vesting																$ 0	(359)	0	168	(191)
Common stock issued for consulting fees (in shares)																20,111
Common stock issued for consulting fees																$ 0	150	0	0	150
Common stock and warrants issued, net of transaction costs (in shares)	54,080															5,171
Common stock and warrants issued, net of transaction costs	$ 0	$ 277	$ 0	$ 0	$ 277											$ 0	23	0	0	23
Net loss																0	0	(5,210)	0	(5,210)
Stock-based compensation																$ 0	638	0	$ 0	638
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2024																6,826,572			29,419
Balance at Sep. 30, 2024																$ 7	$ 261,410	$ (240,327)	$ (192)	$ 20,898

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
ATM [Member]
Common stock issued, transaction costs	$ 34	$ 31	$ 87	$ 119
Public Offering [Member]
Common stock issued, transaction costs		1,713	$ 744	1,713
Yulho agreement [Member]
Common stock issued, transaction costs		$ 372		$ 372

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (17,112,000)	$ (13,912,000)
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities
Depreciation and ROU asset amortization	867,000	770,000
Amortization of intellectual property	117,000	135,000
Fair value of common stock issued for director fees	23,000	96,000
Fair value of common stock issued for consulting services	150,000	12,000
Stock-based compensation	2,163,000	1,880,000
Warrant expense	0	181,000
Amortization of deferred financing costs	29,000	119,000
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment	448,000	(23,000)
Inventory net realizable value adjustment	268,000	0
Write off of debt issuance costs	563,000	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Proceeds from leasing of building	0	12,278,000
Accounts receivable	(419,000)	(64,000)
Inventory	330,000	(612,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	33,000	91,000
Accounts payable	(43,000)	322,000
Accrued expenses	1,030,000	1,181,000
Other assets and liabilities	(84,000)	(232,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(11,637,000)	2,222,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(7,452,000)	(6,142,000)
Proceeds from sale of equipment	15,000	70,000
Proceeds from note receivable	350,000	0
Equipment deposits	(3,975,000)	(222,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(11,062,000)	(6,294,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants, net of transaction costs	7,306,000	22,947,000
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan	35,000	14,000
Payments on note payable	0	(6,000,000)
Principal payments on finance leases	(58,000)	0
Proceeds from note payable, net	0	2,931,000
Cash paid for tax withholdings on RSUs vesting	(552,000)	(1,092,000)
Debt issuance costs	(424,000)	0
Proceeds from ATM, net	2,820,000	3,788,000
Net cash provided by financing activities	9,127,000	22,588,000
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(13,572,000)	18,516,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	16,522,000	7,082,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,950,000	25,598,000
Supplemental disclosure of cash flows information
Cash paid for income taxes	3,000	0
Cash paid for interest	249,000	399,000
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable	758,000	39,000
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment included in accrued expenses	646,000	674,000
Equity included in accrued expenses	$ 0	$ 608,000

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Note 1 - Organization

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Nature of Operations [Text Block]

1. Organization

Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) is engaged in the business of applying its commercialized clean, water-based recycling technology principles to develop the clean and cost-efficient recycling solutions for both lead and lithium-ion (“Li”) batteries. Our recycling process is a patented hydro- and electrometallurgical technology that is an innovative, proprietary and patented process we developed and named AquaRefining. AquaRefining is a low-emissions, closed-loop recycling technology that replaces polluting furnaces and hazardous chemicals with electricity-powered electroplating to recover valuable metals and materials from spent batteries with higher purity, lower emissions, and with minimal waste. The modular “Aqualyzers” cleanly generate ultra-pure metal one atom at a time, closing the sustainability loop for the rapidly growing energy storage economy.

We are in the process of demonstrating that Li AquaRefining, which is fundamentally non-polluting, can create the highest quality and highest yields of recovered minerals from lithium-ion batteries with lower waste streams and lower costs than existing alternatives.

Our focus for the lead market is providing equipment and licensing of our lead acid battery recycling technologies in an enabler model which allows us to work with anyone in the industry globally and address the entire marketplace. Our focus for the lithium market includes operating our first-of-a-kind lithium battery recycling facility, utilizing electricity to recycle instead of intensive chemical processes, fossil fuels, or high-temperature furnaces and licensing.

Reverse Stock Split

Effective November 5, 2024, the Company effected a one-for-20 reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding common shares. Accordingly, all common share, stock option, per common share and warrant amounts for all periods presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retrospectively to reflect this reverse stock split.

Liquidity and Going Concern Assessment

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company reported a net loss of $17.1 million and $13.9 million, respectively, and negative cash from operations of $11.6 million and a cash inflow $2.2 million, respectively, including non-recurring proceeds of $12.3 million from the leasing and sale of the building during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. As of  September 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $3.0 million, current liabilities of $7.1 million and an accumulated deficit of $240.3 million. The Company's current liabilities of $7.1 million include the note payable with Summit Investment Services, LLC in the amount of approximately $3 million due on February 1, 2025 as disclosed in Note 10. The Company has not generated revenues from commercial operations and expects to continue incurring losses for the foreseeable future.

Management believes that the Company does not have sufficient capital resources to sustain operations through at least the next twelve months from the date of this filing. Additionally, in view of the Company’s expectation to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future it will be required to raise additional capital resources in order to fund its operations, although the availability of, and the Company’s access to such resources, is not assured. Accordingly, management believes that there is substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue operating as a going concern through the next twelve months from the date of this filing.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the assumption the Company will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts of liabilities that  may result from uncertainty related to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Reclassification of Prior Period Financial Statements

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment was presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations within loss from operations. This reclassification was made for the year ended December 31, 2023 and presented in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year then ended.

We have reclassified the prior period Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations included in this filing to conform to the current period presentation, as shown in the following table (in thousands):

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
	As Reported			Reclassification			As Reclassified
Operating cost and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment		—			(23	)		(23	)
Total operating expense	$	14,345		$	(23	)	$	14,322
Income (loss) from operations	$	(14,320	)	$	23		$	(14,297	)
Other income and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment		23			(23	)		—
Total other income (expense), net	$	408		$	(23	)	$	385

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Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

The significant accounting policies and estimates used in preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements are described in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the notes thereto, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, on March 28, 2024. There have been no material changes in the Company’s significant accounting policies during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Aqua Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “Aqua Metals”) have been prepared in accordance with the interim reporting requirements of Form 10-Q, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2023, which are included on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2024. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for annual consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly each of the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, the condensed consolidated statements of stockholders' equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, as applicable, have been made. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of such date, but it does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for annual presentation.

The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ending  December 31, 2024.

Principles of consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries. Inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount and valuation of long-lived assets, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, and the determination of stock-based compensation expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Net loss per share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method or the if-converted method, as applicable. For purposes of this calculation, stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and warrants to purchase common stock are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is dilutive. The following shares underlying outstanding convertible notes, stock options, RSUs and warrants to purchase common stock were anti-dilutive due to a net loss in the periods presented and, therefore, were excluded from the dilutive weighted average securities computation for the three and nine months ended September 30, as indicated below:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
Excluded potentially dilutive weighted average securities (1):	2024		2023		2024		2023
Unvested restricted stock units		282,016		251,736		340,302		276,271
Options to purchase common stock		—		5,790		—		25,299
Financing warrants to purchase common stock		1,073,856		21,833		562,639		7,569
Total potential dilutive weighted average securities		1,355,872		279,359		902,941		309,139

(1) Securities are presented on a weighted average outstanding calculation as required if the securities were dilutive and adjusted to give effect to the November 4, 2024 reverse stock split.

Segment and geographic information

Our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is the Chief Executive Officer. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging in business activities for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by the CODM in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The CODM views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment.

Concentration of credit risk

The Company did not generate revenue during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company had no trade receivables as of  September 30, 2024 and  December 31, 2023. The accounts receivable balance on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of  September 30, 2024 consisted of proceeds from sale of raw materials and proceeds from a non-recurring engineering (NRE) arrangement with 6K Energy. The balance as of  December 31, 2023 consisted of proceeds from a NRE arrangement with 6K Energy.

Recent accounting pronouncements

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

In  November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (Topic 280). This ASU updates reportable segment disclosure requirements by requiring disclosures of significant reportable segment expenses that are regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of a segment's profit or loss. This ASU also requires disclosure of the title and position of the individual identified as the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measures of a segment’s profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after  December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after  December 15, 2024. Adoption of the ASU should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is also permitted. This ASU will likely result in us including the additional required disclosures when adopted. We are currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on the disclosures within our consolidated financial statements.

In  December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (Topic 740). The ASU requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as additional information on income taxes paid. The ASU is effective on a prospective basis for annual periods beginning after  December 15, 2024. Early adoption is also permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. This ASU will require additional disclosures in our consolidated financial statements, once adopted.

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Note 3 - Revenue Recognition

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block]

3. Revenue recognition

The Company has historically generated revenues by recycling lead acid batteries (“LABs”) and selling the recovered lead to its customers.

The Company was not in commercial production during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Historically, Company products transferred to customers at a single point in time accounted for 100% of its revenue. 

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Note 4 - Note Receivable

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block]

4. Note receivable

During the year ended  December 31, 2023, the Company sold its $2,000,000 stock investment in LINICO and recorded an impairment of $1,400,000 and a note receivable of $600,000. The proceeds will be received over a 12-month installment which began in  January 2024. The balance of the note receivable is $250,000 and $600,000 as of  September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

The Company accounted for the LINICO investment under ASC 321, Investments-Equity Securities, using the measurement alternative of recording at cost as the investment in LINICO doesn’t have a readily determinable fair value.

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Note 5 - Inventory

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Inventory Disclosure [Text Block]

5. Inventory

Inventory consisted of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Work in process	$	—	$	135
Raw materials		330		794
Total inventory	$	330	$	929

We write-down inventory when evidence exists that the net realizable value of inventory is less than the cost. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we recorded write-downs of $268,000 which were included in plant operations in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

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Note 6 - Property and Equipment, Net

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]

6. Property, plant and equipment, net

Property, plant and equipment, net, consisted of the following (in thousands):

	Useful Life
Asset Class	(Years)		September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
Operational equipment		3 - 10	$	3,551		$	3,581
Lab equipment		5		1,128			817
Computer equipment		3		107			89
Office furniture and equipment		3		87			90
Leasehold improvements		2.5		80			80
Land		-		1,141			1,141
Building		39		3,131			3,131
Equipment under construction				9,643			3,047
				18,868			11,976
Less: accumulated depreciation				(2,253	)		(1,629	)
Total property, plant and equipment, net			$	16,615		$	10,347

Property, plant and equipment depreciation expense was $229,000 and $682,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and $254,000 and $591,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. Equipment under construction is comprised of our lithium-ion battery recycling commercial equipment along with various components being manufactured or installed by the Company.

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Note 7 - Other Assets

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Other Assets Disclosure [Text Block]

7. Other assets

Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Equipment deposits (1)	$	6,920	$	4,291
Nevada facilities Right of Use Assets (2)		600		222
Other assets		20		160
Total other assets, non-current	$	7,540	$	4,673

(1) Deposits for equipment to be acquired and utilized at the Company's Phase One build-out of our recycling campus at Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (TRIC). 

(2) See Footnote 9.

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Note 8 - Accrued Expenses

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block]

8. Accrued expenses

Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Property, plant and equipment related	$	674	$	1,857
Payroll related		1,359		506
Professional services		90		26
Other		191		78
Total accrued expenses	$	2,314	$	2,467

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Note 9 - Leases

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Lessee, Operating and Finance Leases [Text Block]

9. Leases

As of September 30, 2024, the Company maintained two finance leases for equipment and two operating leases for real estate. The operating leases have current terms of 36 and 37 months and include one or more options to extend the duration of the agreements. These operating leases are included in "Other assets" on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets and represent the Company's right to use the underlying assets for the term of the leases. The Company's obligation to make lease payments are included in "Lease liability, current portion" and "Lease liability, non-current portion" on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. 

On  March 14, 2024, the Company extended its operating lease for its headquarters located at 5370 Kietzke Lane, Reno, NV. The lease extension was determined to be a lease modification that qualified as a change of accounting on the existing lease and not a separate contract. As such, the Right-of-Use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities were remeasured using an incremental borrowing rate at the date of modification of 9.61%, which resulted in an increase of the ROU asset of $170,000 and an increase in the operating lease liabilities of $166,000.

On June 9, 2024, the Company extended its operating lease for its Innovation Center located at 160 Denmark Dr, McCarran, NV. The lease extension was determined to be a lease modification that qualified as a change of accounting on the existing lease and not a separate contract. As such, the Right-of-Use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities were remeasured using an incremental borrowing rate at the date of modification of 9.52%, which resulted in an increase of the ROU asset of $347,000 and an increase in the operating lease liabilities of $324,000.

The Company currently maintains two finance leases for equipment. In November 2021, the Company entered into a finance lease for a modular laboratory which expires in October 2024. On April 1, 2024 the Company entered into a finance lease for laboratory equipment which expires in 2029. 

Information related to the Company's right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Cash paid for operating lease liabilities	$	68	$	66	$	204	$	199
Operating lease cost	$	72	$	65	$	210	$	196
Cash paid for finance lease liabilities	$	25	$	15	$	64	$	46
Interest expense	$	2	$	2	$	6	$	5

	September 30, 2024			September 30, 2023
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - operating leases		2.4			1.1
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases		10.48	%		6.17	%
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - finance leases		2.3			1.1
Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases		4.59	%		8.17	%
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases	$	600		$	—

Future maturities of lease liabilities as of September 30, 2024 are as follows (in thousands):

Due in 12-month period ended September 30,
	Operating Leases			Finance Leases
2024	$	71		$	16
2025		291			47
2026		182			47
2027		149			48
Thereafter		—			60
Less imputed interest		(84	)		(21	)
Total lease liabilities	$	609		$	197
Current lease liabilities	$	242		$	44
Non-current lease liabilities		367			153
Total lease liabilities	$	609		$	197

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Note 10 - Note Payable

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

10. Note payable

On February 1, 2023, Aqua Metals Reno, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a Loan Agreement with Summit Investment Services, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (the “Lender”), pursuant to which the Lender provided us with a loan in the amount of $3 million. The loan proceeds were used to purchase a building located at 2999 Waltham Way McCarran, NV 89434 (the “Building”). The loan accrues interest at a fixed annual rate of 9.50%. Interest-only payments are due monthly for the first twenty-four months and the principal and all unpaid interest is due on February 1, 2025. We have the right to prepay the loan at any time, provided that we must pay guaranteed minimum interest of $213,750 (9-months of interest). The Loan Agreement includes representations, warranties, and affirmative and negative covenants that are customary of institutional loan agreements. As of  September 30, 2024 and  December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all of the covenants. The loan is collateralized by a first priority lien on the building and site improvements, and is guaranteed by Aqua Metals, Inc.

Note payable is comprised of the following (in thousands):

	September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
Note payable, current portion
Summit Investment Services, LLC	$	3,000		$	35
Less issuance costs		(12	)		—
Total note payable, current portion	$	2,988		$	35
Note payable, non-current portion
Summit Investment Services, LLC	$	—		$	3,000
Less issuance costs		—			(77	)
Total note payable, non-current portion	$	—		$	2,923

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Note 11 - Stockholders' Equity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Equity [Text Block]

11. Stockholders’ equity

Shares issued

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 129,857 shares of common stock upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") granted by the Company to management and employees, including 44,261 of reissued treasury stock. We withheld 52,252 shares to satisfy approximately $552,000 of employees’ tax obligations during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. We treat shares of common stock withheld for tax purposes on behalf of our employees in connection with the vesting of RSUs in a similar manner as common stock repurchases and reported as treasury stock. 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 20,111 shares of common stock for consulting services.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 7,330 shares of common stock upon vesting of RSUs granted to Board members.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 5,171 shares of common stock to Board members related to director fees.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 6,607 shares of common stock to a former employee related to a severance agreement.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 3,444 shares of common stock pursuant to the employee stock purchase plan.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 306,049 shares of common stock pursuant to the at the market issuance sales agreement for net proceeds of $2.8 million.

In May 2024, the Company completed a public offering of 1,006,250 shares of its common stock at the public offering price of $7.80 per share. In connection with the sale of common stock, the Company issued warrants to purchase shares of common stock at the rate of one warrant for every share of purchased common stock, at the offering price of $0.20 per warrant. After the deduction of the underwriter’s discount and expenses payable by us, we received net proceeds of $7.3 million. The Company used the relative fair value method to allocate the net proceeds of approximately $7.3 million between the common stock and the warrants. As presented below, the Company recorded the fair value of the warrants of $3.1 million and common stock of $4.2 million.

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 70,694 shares of common stock upon vesting of Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") granted by the Company to management and employees, including 25,532 of reissued treasury stock. We withheld 46,960 shares to satisfy approximately $1,091,000 of employees’ tax obligations during the nine months ended  September 30, 2023. We treat shares of common stock withheld for tax purposes on behalf of our employees in connection with the vesting of RSUs in a similar manner as common stock repurchases and reported as treasury stock. 

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 6,546 shares of common stock upon vesting of RSUs granted to Board members.

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 789 shares of common stock to a former Board member to fulfill obligations related to consulting services.

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 4,231 shares of common stock to a Board member related to director fees.

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 23,468 shares of common stock upon the settlement of the securities class action lawsuit.

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 9,635 shares of common stock pursuant to the employee stock purchase plan.

In  July 2023, the Company completed a public offering of 909,650 shares of its common stock, for net proceeds of $18.3 million.

In  August 2023, the Company issued 227,273 shares of its common stock pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Yulho SPA”), with Yulho Co, Ltd., for net proceeds of $4.6 million.

During the nine months ended  September 30, 2023, the Company issued 162,215 shares of common stock pursuant to the At The Market Issuance Sales Agreement for net proceeds of $3.8 million.

Warrant issued

In connection with the above-described May 2024 public offering, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 39,125 shares of the Company's common stock to the underwriter of the Company's public offering, equal to 2% of the shares and the number of shares underlying the warrants sold in the offering, for relative fair value of $0.1 million. The warrants are exercisable at $9.75 per share on the closing date,  May 14, 2024. The warrants have an expiration date of 5 years from the date of issuance and will expire on  May 14, 2029. The relative fair value of the warrants was recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet in additional paid-in capital in stockholders' equity as the warrants are indexed to the Company’s common stock and meet the conditions for equity classification.

In May 2024, in conjunction with the Company's public offering, the Company issued a warrant to purchase up to 1,006,250 shares of the Company's common stock, for the relative fair value of $3 million. The warrants are exercisable at $7.80 per share. The warrants have an expiration date of 5 years from the date of issuance and will expire on May 14, 2029. The relative fair value of the warrants was recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheet in additional paid-in capital in stockholders' equity as the warrants are indexed to the Company’s common stock and meet the conditions for equity classification.

In  July 2023, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 18,193 shares of the Company's common stock to the underwriter of the Company's public offering, equal to 2% of the 909,650 shares sold. The warrants are exercisable at $27.50 per share, commencing six months after  July 17, 2023. The warrants have an expiration date of 5 years from the date of issuance and will expire on   July 17, 2028.

In  August 2023, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 10,288 shares of the Company's common stock to the underwriter of the transaction in connection with the Yulho SPA. The warrants have an expiration date of 5 years from the date of issuance and are exercisable immediately at $25 per share. The warrant will expire on  August 4, 2028.

Stock-based compensation

The stock-based compensation expense was allocated as follows:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Plant operations	$	28	$	35	$	213	$	82
Research and development cost		6		8		42		48
General and administrative expense		604		551		1,908		1,750
Total	$	638	$	594	$	2,163	$	1,880

2019 Stock Incentive Plan

In 2019, our board of directors adopted the Aqua Metals, Inc. 2019 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”). On May 23, 2024, 475,000 shares of common stock was authorized and added to the plan. A total of 1,400,000 shares of common stock was authorized for issuance pursuant to the 2019 Plan. The 2019 Plan provides for the following types of stock-based awards: incentive stock options; non-statutory stock options; restricted stock; and performance stock. The 2019 Plan, under which equity incentives may be granted to employees and directors under incentive and non-statutory agreements, requires that the option price may not be less than the fair value of the stock at the date the option is granted. Option awards are exercisable until their expiration, which may not exceed 10 years from the grant date. As of  September 30, 2024, there were 570,743 remaining shares available for future grants.

	Number of Shares			Number of
	Available for			RSUs
	Grant			Outstanding
Balances, December 31, 2023		71,023			432,725
Granted		(57,126	)		57,126
Exercised/ Released		—			(169,075	)
Forfeited		61,081			(61,081	)
Returned to Plan		52,251			—
Addition to 2019 Plan		475,000			—
Expiration of 2014 Plan		(31,486	)		—
Balances, September 30, 2024		570,743			259,695

Restricted stock units

During the first quarter of 2024, the Company granted 5,576 RSUs, all of which were subject to vesting, with a grant date fair value of $60,000 to employees. The shares vest in three equal installments over a three-year period.

During the second quarter of 2024, the Company granted 6,250 RSUs, all of which were subject to vesting, with a grant date fair value of $40,000 to employees. The shares vest in three equal installments over a three-year period.

During the third quarter of 2024, the Company granted 18,582 RSUs, all of which were subject to vesting, with a grant date fair value of $83,000 to Board Members. The shares vest in four equal installments with the first installment vesting immediately and the remaining three installments vesting over a nine-month period.

During the third quarter of 2024, the Company granted 20,111 RSUs, all of which were vested immediately, with a fair value of $150,000 for consulting fees.

During the third quarter of 2024, the Company granted 6,607 RSUs, all of which were vested immediately, with a fair value of $28,000 to an employee upon termination of a severance agreement. 

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Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

12. Commitments and contingencies

We  may, from time to time, be party to litigation and subject to claims incident to the ordinary course of business. As we grow, we  may become party to an increasing number of litigation matters and claims. The outcome of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, and the resolution of any future matters could materially affect our future financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We are not party to any legal proceedings that, if determined adversely to us, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

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Note 13 - Subsequent Events

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Subsequent Events [Text Block]

13. Subsequent events

On November 4, 2024, the Company implemented a one-for-twenty (1-for-20) reverse split of our common stock. Prior to the reverse stock split the Company had 137,635,801 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, and after the reverse stock split, the Company had approximately 6,881,790 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. All share and per-share amounts included in this Form 10-Q are presented as if the stock split had been effective from the beginning of the earliest period presented.

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Insider Trading Arrangements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Insider Trading Arr Line Items

Material Terms of Trading Arrangement [Text Block]

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted [Flag]

false

Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted [Flag]

false

Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated [Flag]

false

Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated [Flag]

false

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Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Aqua Metals, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “Aqua Metals”) have been prepared in accordance with the interim reporting requirements of Form 10-Q, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2023, which are included on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2024. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for annual consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary to present fairly each of the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, the condensed consolidated statements of stockholders' equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, as applicable, have been made. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of such date, but it does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for annual presentation.

The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ending  December 31, 2024.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries. Inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount and valuation of long-lived assets, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, and the determination of stock-based compensation expense. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Net loss per share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method or the if-converted method, as applicable. For purposes of this calculation, stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and warrants to purchase common stock are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is dilutive. The following shares underlying outstanding convertible notes, stock options, RSUs and warrants to purchase common stock were anti-dilutive due to a net loss in the periods presented and, therefore, were excluded from the dilutive weighted average securities computation for the three and nine months ended September 30, as indicated below:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
Excluded potentially dilutive weighted average securities (1):	2024		2023		2024		2023
Unvested restricted stock units		282,016		251,736		340,302		276,271
Options to purchase common stock		—		5,790		—		25,299
Financing warrants to purchase common stock		1,073,856		21,833		562,639		7,569
Total potential dilutive weighted average securities		1,355,872		279,359		902,941		309,139

(1) Securities are presented on a weighted average outstanding calculation as required if the securities were dilutive and adjusted to give effect to the November 4, 2024 reverse stock split.

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Segment and geographic information

Our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is the Chief Executive Officer. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging in business activities for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by the CODM in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The CODM views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment.

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Concentration of credit risk

The Company did not generate revenue during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company had no trade receivables as of  September 30, 2024 and  December 31, 2023. The accounts receivable balance on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of  September 30, 2024 consisted of proceeds from sale of raw materials and proceeds from a non-recurring engineering (NRE) arrangement with 6K Energy. The balance as of  December 31, 2023 consisted of proceeds from a NRE arrangement with 6K Energy.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent accounting pronouncements

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

In  November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (Topic 280). This ASU updates reportable segment disclosure requirements by requiring disclosures of significant reportable segment expenses that are regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of a segment's profit or loss. This ASU also requires disclosure of the title and position of the individual identified as the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measures of a segment’s profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after  December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after  December 15, 2024. Adoption of the ASU should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is also permitted. This ASU will likely result in us including the additional required disclosures when adopted. We are currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on the disclosures within our consolidated financial statements.

In  December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (Topic 740). The ASU requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as additional information on income taxes paid. The ASU is effective on a prospective basis for annual periods beginning after  December 15, 2024. Early adoption is also permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. This ASU will require additional disclosures in our consolidated financial statements, once adopted.

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Note 1 - Organization (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes Tables

Schedule of Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments [Table Text Block]

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
	As Reported			Reclassification			As Reclassified
Operating cost and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment		—			(23	)		(23	)
Total operating expense	$	14,345		$	(23	)	$	14,322
Income (loss) from operations	$	(14,320	)	$	23		$	(14,297	)
Other income and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment		23			(23	)		—
Total other income (expense), net	$	408		$	(23	)	$	385

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Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes Tables

Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
Excluded potentially dilutive weighted average securities (1):	2024		2023		2024		2023
Unvested restricted stock units		282,016		251,736		340,302		276,271
Options to purchase common stock		—		5,790		—		25,299
Financing warrants to purchase common stock		1,073,856		21,833		562,639		7,569
Total potential dilutive weighted average securities		1,355,872		279,359		902,941		309,139

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Note 5 - Inventory (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes Tables

Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]

	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Work in process	$	—	$	135
Raw materials		330		794
Total inventory	$	330	$	929

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Note 6 - Property and Equipment, Net (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes Tables

Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]

	Useful Life
Asset Class	(Years)		September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
Operational equipment		3 - 10	$	3,551		$	3,581
Lab equipment		5		1,128			817
Computer equipment		3		107			89
Office furniture and equipment		3		87			90
Leasehold improvements		2.5		80			80
Land		-		1,141			1,141
Building		39		3,131			3,131
Equipment under construction				9,643			3,047
				18,868			11,976
Less: accumulated depreciation				(2,253	)		(1,629	)
Total property, plant and equipment, net			$	16,615		$	10,347

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Note 7 - Other Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes Tables

Schedule of Other Assets [Table Text Block]

	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Equipment deposits (1)	$	6,920	$	4,291
Nevada facilities Right of Use Assets (2)		600		222
Other assets		20		160
Total other assets, non-current	$	7,540	$	4,673

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Note 8 - Accrued Expenses (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes Tables

Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block]

	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Property, plant and equipment related	$	674	$	1,857
Payroll related		1,359		506
Professional services		90		26
Other		191		78
Total accrued expenses	$	2,314	$	2,467

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Note 9 - Leases (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes Tables

Lease, Cost [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Cash paid for operating lease liabilities	$	68	$	66	$	204	$	199
Operating lease cost	$	72	$	65	$	210	$	196
Cash paid for finance lease liabilities	$	25	$	15	$	64	$	46
Interest expense	$	2	$	2	$	6	$	5

	September 30, 2024			September 30, 2023
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - operating leases		2.4			1.1
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases		10.48	%		6.17	%
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - finance leases		2.3			1.1
Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases		4.59	%		8.17	%
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases	$	600		$	—

Lessee, Lease Liability, Maturity [Table Text Block]

Due in 12-month period ended September 30,
	Operating Leases			Finance Leases
2024	$	71		$	16
2025		291			47
2026		182			47
2027		149			48
Thereafter		—			60
Less imputed interest		(84	)		(21	)
Total lease liabilities	$	609		$	197
Current lease liabilities	$	242		$	44
Non-current lease liabilities		367			153
Total lease liabilities	$	609		$	197

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Note 10 - Note Payable (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes Tables

Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]

	September 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
Note payable, current portion
Summit Investment Services, LLC	$	3,000		$	35
Less issuance costs		(12	)		—
Total note payable, current portion	$	2,988		$	35
Note payable, non-current portion
Summit Investment Services, LLC	$	—		$	3,000
Less issuance costs		—			(77	)
Total note payable, non-current portion	$	—		$	2,923

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Note 11 - Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes Tables

Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Expensed and Capitalized, Amount [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Plant operations	$	28	$	35	$	213	$	82
Research and development cost		6		8		42		48
General and administrative expense		604		551		1,908		1,750
Total	$	638	$	594	$	2,163	$	1,880

Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option and Restricted Stock Unit, Activity [Table Text Block]

	Number of Shares			Number of
	Available for			RSUs
	Grant			Outstanding
Balances, December 31, 2023		71,023			432,725
Granted		(57,126	)		57,126
Exercised/ Released		—			(169,075	)
Forfeited		61,081			(61,081	)
Returned to Plan		52,251			—
Addition to 2019 Plan		475,000			—
Expiration of 2014 Plan		(31,486	)		—
Balances, September 30, 2024		570,743			259,695

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Note 1 - Organization (Details Textual) $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 05, 2024	Nov. 04, 2024	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2023 USD ($)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent			$ (5,210)	$ (4,547)	$ (17,112)	$ (13,912)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities					(11,637)	2,222
Proceeds from Sales-type Lease Payments, Financing Activities					0	$ 12,278
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value			2,950		2,950		$ 16,522
Liabilities, Current			7,065		7,065		4,613
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)			$ (240,327)		$ (240,327)		$ (223,215)
Summit Investment Services, LLC [Member] | Loan Agreement [Member] | Aqua Metals Reno, Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount								$ 3,000
Reverse Stock Split [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio	20	20

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Note 1 - Organization - Correction of Prior Period (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Operating cost and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment	$ 448	$ 0	$ 448	$ (23)
Total operating expense	5,211	4,974	17,165	14,322
Income (loss) from operations	(5,211)	(4,949)	(17,165)	(14,297)
Other income and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment	448	0	448	(23)
Total other income (expense), net	$ 1	$ 402	$ 56	385
Revision of Prior Period, Adjustment [Member]
Operating cost and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment				(23)
Total operating expense				(23)
Income (loss) from operations				23
Other income and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment				(23)
Total other income (expense), net				(23)
As Corrected [Member]
Operating cost and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment				(23)
Total operating expense				14,322
Income (loss) from operations				(14,297)
Other income and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment				(23)
Total other income (expense), net				385
Previously Reported [Member]
Operating cost and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment				23
Total operating expense				14,345
Income (loss) from operations				(14,320)
Other income and expense
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment				23
Total other income (expense), net				$ 408

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Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 25	$ 0	$ 25
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Current	486		486		$ 67
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Accounts Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Current	0		0		$ 0
Sale of Inventory [Member]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

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Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation of Earnings Per Share (Details) - shares		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Total potential dilutive securities (in shares)	[1]	1,355,872	279,359	902,941	309,139
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Total potential dilutive securities (in shares)		282,016	251,736	340,302	276,271
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]
Total potential dilutive securities (in shares)		0	5,790	0	25,299
Warrant [Member]
Total potential dilutive securities (in shares)		1,073,856	21,833	562,639	7,569

[1] Securities are presented on a weighted average outstanding calculation as required if the securities were dilutive and adjusted to give effect to the November 4, 2024 reverse stock split.

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Note 3 - Revenue Recognition (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Percentage of Revenue From Products Transferred at Point in Time	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

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Note 4 - Note Receivable (Details Textual) - LiNiCo [Member] - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024
Investment Owned, Balance, Shares (in shares)	2,000,000
Equity Securities without Readily Determinable Fair Value, Impairment Loss, Annual Amount	$ 1,400,000
Receivable, Investment, Sale	$ 600,000	$ 250,000

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Note 5 - Inventory (Details Textual) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Inventory Write-down	$ 268,000	$ 0

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Note 5 - Inventory - Inventory (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Work in process	$ 0	$ 135
Raw materials	330	794
Total inventory	$ 330	$ 929

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Note 6 - Property and Equipment, Net (Details Textual) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Depreciation	$ 229,000	$ 254,000	$ 682,000	$ 591,000

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Note 6 - Property and Equipment, Net - Property and Equipment, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Property and equipment, gross	$ 18,868	$ 11,976
Less: accumulated depreciation	(2,253)	(1,629)
Total property, plant and equipment, net	16,615	10,347
Operational Equipment [Member]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 3,551	3,581
Operational Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and equipment, net, useful life (Year)	3 years
Operational Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and equipment, net, useful life (Year)	10 years
Laboratory Equipment [Member]
Property and equipment, net, useful life (Year)	5 years
Property and equipment, gross	$ 1,128	817
Computer Equipment [Member]
Property and equipment, net, useful life (Year)	3 years
Property and equipment, gross	$ 107	89
Office Furniture and Equipment [Member]
Property and equipment, net, useful life (Year)	3 years
Property and equipment, gross	$ 87	90
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property and equipment, net, useful life (Year)	2 years 6 months
Property and equipment, gross	$ 80	80
Land [Member]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 1,141	1,141
Building [Member]
Property and equipment, net, useful life (Year)	39 years
Property and equipment, gross	$ 3,131	3,131
Construction in Progress [Member]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 9,643	$ 3,047

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Note 7 - Other Assets - Other Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Equipment deposits (1)	[1]	$ 6,920	$ 4,291
Nevada facilities Right of Use Assets (2)	[2]	600	222
Other assets		20	160
Total other assets, non-current		$ 7,540	$ 4,673

[1] Deposits for equipment to be acquired and utilized at the Company's Phase One build-out of our recycling campus at Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (TRIC).

[2] See Footnote 9.

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Note 8 - Accrued Expenses - Accrued Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Property, plant and equipment related	$ 674	$ 1,857
Payroll related	1,359	506
Professional services	90	26
Other	191	78
Total accrued expenses	$ 2,314	$ 2,467

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Note 9 - Leases (Details Textual) - USD ($)			9 Months Ended
	Jun. 09, 2024	Mar. 14, 2024	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Increase/Decrease			$ 600,000	$ 0
Real Estate Lease One [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract (Month)			36 months
Real Estate Lease Two [Member]
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract (Month)			37 months
Headquarters Lease [Member]
Incremental Borrowing Rate		9.61%
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Increase/Decrease		$ 170,000
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Lease Liability		$ 166,000
Innovation Center [Member]
Incremental Borrowing Rate	9.52%
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Increase/Decrease	$ 347,000
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Lease Liability	$ 324,000

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Note 9 - Leases - Right-of-Use Assets and Related Lease Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Cash paid for operating lease liabilities	$ 68	$ 66	$ 204	$ 199
Operating lease cost	72	65	210	196
Cash paid for finance lease liabilities	25	15	64	46
Interest expense	$ 2	$ 2	$ 6	$ 5
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - operating leases (Year)	2 years 4 months 24 days	1 year 1 month 6 days	2 years 4 months 24 days	1 year 1 month 6 days
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases	10.48%	6.17%	10.48%	6.17%
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - finance leases (Year)	2 years 3 months 18 days	1 year 1 month 6 days	2 years 3 months 18 days	1 year 1 month 6 days
Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases	4.59%	8.17%	4.59%	8.17%
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Increase/Decrease			$ 600	$ 0

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Note 9 - Leases - Maturities of Lease Liabilities (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)
2024, operating lease	$ 71
2024, finance lease	16
2025, operating lease	291
2025, finance lease	47
2026, operating lease	182
2026, finance lease	47
2027, operating lease	149
2027, finance lease	48
Thereafter, operating lease	0
Thereafter, finance lease	60
Less imputed interest, operating lease	(84)
Less imputed interest, finance lease	(21)
Total lease liabilities, operating lease	609
Finance Lease, Liability	197
Current lease liabilities, operating lease	242
Current lease liabilities, finance lease	44
Non-current lease liabilities, operating lease	367
Non-current lease liabilities, finance lease	$ 153

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Note 10 - Note Payable (Details Textual) - Loan Agreement [Member] - Summit Investment Services, LLC [Member] - Aqua Metals Reno, Inc [Member]	Feb. 01, 2023 USD ($)
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 3,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	9.50%
Debt Instrument Term, Interest Only Payments (Year)	24 years
Debt Instrument, Guaranteed Minimum Interest	$ 213,750

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Note 10 - Note Payable - Schedule of Notes Payable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Note payable, current portion	$ 2,988	$ 35
Less issuance costs	(12)	0
Note payable, noncurrent	0	2,923
Less issuance costs	0	(77)
Summit Investment Services, LLC [Member]
Note payable, current portion	3,000	35
Note payable, noncurrent	$ 0	$ 3,000

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Note 11 - Stockholders' Equity (Details Textual)			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May 23, 2024 shares	May 01, 2024 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Aug. 31, 2023 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Jul. 31, 2023 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($) shares	Jun. 30, 2024 USD ($) shares	Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2019
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Shares Withheld for Tax Withholding Obligation (in shares)								52,252	46,960
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Decrease for Tax Withholding Obligation | $								$ 552,000	$ 1,091,000
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Issued for Services (in shares)								20,111
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Stock Purchase Plans (in shares)								3,444	9,635
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock | $								$ 2,820,000	$ 3,788,000
Proceeds from Issuance Or Sale Of Equity, Net | $								$ 7,306,000	$ 22,947,000
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Issued for Class Action Settlement (in shares)									23,468
The 2019 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Authorized (in shares)	475,000
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized (in shares)	1,400,000
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant (in shares)					570,743			570,743
The 2019 Stock Incentive Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Expiration Period (Year)										10 years
May 2024 Public Offering Warrants [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares)		1,006,250
Shares Issued, Price Per Share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 7.8
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Each Warrant or Right (in shares)		1
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.2
Warrants and Rights Outstanding | $		$ 3,100,000
May 2024 Warrants [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 7.8
Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants | $		$ 3,000,000
May 2024 Warrants [Member] | Underwriter [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 9.75
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in shares)		39,125
Sale of Stock, Warrants, Commission Percent		2.00%
Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants | $		$ 100,000
Warrants and Rights Outstanding, Term (Year)		5 years
Public Offering Warrant [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				$ 27.5
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in shares)				18,193
Sale of Stock, Warrants, Commission Percent				2.00%
Warrants and Rights Outstanding, Term (Year)				5 years
Yulho SPA Underwriter Warrant [Member]
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 25
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in shares)			10,288
Warrants and Rights Outstanding, Term (Year)			5 years
ATM [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares)								306,049	162,215
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock | $								$ 2,800,000	$ 3,800,000
May 2024 Public Offering [Member]
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity | $		$ 7,300,000
Proceeds from Issuance Or Sale Of Equity, Net | $		$ 4,200,000
July 2023 Public Offering [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares)				909,650
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock | $				$ 18.3
Yulho Offering [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares)			227,273
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock | $			$ 4,600,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in shares)					20,111	6,250	5,576	57,126
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Fair Value | $					$ 150,000	$ 40,000	$ 60,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period, Number of Installments						3	3
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)						3 years	3 years
Management and Employees [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross (in shares)								129,857	70,694
Management and Employees [Member] | Reissued Treasury Stock [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross (in shares)								44,261	25,532
Board Members [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross (in shares)								7,330	6,546
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Issued for Services (in shares)									789
Board Members [Member] | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in shares)					18,582
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Fair Value | $					$ 83,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period, Number of Installments					4
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)					9 months
Director [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Issued for Services (in shares)								5,171	4,231
Former Employee [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares)								6,607
Employee [Member] | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in shares)					6,607
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Fair Value | $					$ 28,000

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Note 11 - Stockholders' Equity - Stock-based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 638	$ 594	$ 2,163	$ 1,880
Cost of Sales [Member]
Stock-based compensation expense	28	35	213	82
Research and Development Expense [Member]
Stock-based compensation expense	6	8	42	48
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 604	$ 551	$ 1,908	$ 1,750

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Note 11 - Stockholders' Equity - Stock-based Compensation Plan Activity (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2024	Mar. 31, 2024	Sep. 30, 2024
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Member]
Number of shares available for grant (in shares)			71,023	71,023
Granted, available for grant (in shares)				(57,126)
Forfeited, available for grant (in shares)				61,081
Returned to Plan, available for grant (in shares)				52,251
Addition, available for grant (in shares)				475,000
Expiration, available for grant (in shares)				(31,486)
Number of shares available for grant (in shares)	570,743			570,743
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Balances, RSUs (in shares)			432,725	432,725
Granted (in shares)	20,111	6,250	5,576	57,126
Exercised/ Released (in shares)				(169,075)
Forfeited (in shares)				(61,081)
Returned to Plan, RSUs (in shares)				0
Additions to Plan, RSUs (in shares)				0
Expiration of 2014 Plan (in shares)				0
Balances, RSUs (in shares)	259,695			259,695

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Note 13 - Subsequent Events (Details Textual)	Nov. 05, 2024	Nov. 04, 2024 shares	Nov. 03, 2024 shares	Sep. 30, 2024 shares	Dec. 31, 2023 shares
Common Stock, Shares, Issued (in shares)				6,855,991	5,415,433
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding (in shares)				6,826,572	5,394,005
Subsequent Event [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Issued (in shares)		6,881,790	137,635,801
Reverse Stock Split [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio	20	20