GMG gets approvals to build graphene battery plant at Brisbane

Brisbane-based, Toronto-listed Graphene Manufacturing Group announced on Wednesday that it had the regulatory and council approvals needed to begin commercial-scale manufacturing of its novel batteries.

To date the company has been working under R&D-level regulatory approvals to make battery cell prototypes. The announcement is the first about GMG’s batteries since June last year, when GMG provided an update stating it had commissioned equipment for pouch cell production.

 “This is another milestone in the maturation of the company,” said CEO Craig Nicol of the approvals. 

“This allows GMG to take its battery development roadmap further with reassurance that government approvals have been granted to build and operate a plant at our existing location.”

GMG is commercialising graphene aluminium-ion (G+AI) batteries, developed in collaboration with the University of Queensland, which have claimed benefits over lithium ion batteries including in safety and charging speed. GMG has made G+AI batteries in coin and pouch cell format.

The company is also commercialising products such as specialised coatings and lubricants based on graphene ingredients.

The council approval follows news last week that GMG had gained “full and final approval” for its products under the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS), allowing for a significant increase in production.

The AICIS approval includes the ability to make up to 10 tonnes per annum of graphene powders.

These developments represented “an important step” towards a decision – to be taken “at an appropriate future time” – to build and operate a battery manufacturing plant at GMG’s Richlands headquarters.

Picture: credit GMG/Shutterstock

Further reading

AICIS APPROVAL WILL ALLOW SIGNIFICANT SCALING UP, SAYS GRAPHENE MANUFACTURING GROUP

GMG TESTS ITS GRAPHENE ALUMINIUM-ION BATTERY PRODUCTION

GMG PLANNING GRAPHENE ALUMINIUM ION BATTERY MANUFACTURING PLANT