Li-S Energy gets $7.9 million ARENA funding for Australian battery cell manufacturing

Geelong-based battery technology company Li-S Energy has been awarded $7.86 million in Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) funding to progress its planned lithium-sulfur battery cell manufacturing facility.

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According to a statement from ARENA on Tuesday, the grant will support plans to scale up production to 1 gigawatt hour per year of battery cell capacity, a 500-fold increase on the company’s current output.

Activities enabled through the project will include manufacturing optimisation, a feasibility study and front-end engineering design (FEED) for the proposed cell manufacturing.

Li-S Energy CEO and MD Dr Lee Finniear said, “This funding enables us to accelerate the critical commercial and engineering studies needed to progress advanced lithium-sulfur batteries toward large-scale production. 

“It will help meet growing demand for lightweight batteries in drones, defence, aerospace and other relevant high-value commercial markets.” 

The news follows a July announcement from Li-S Energy that it became the first Australian company to make pure lithium metal foils, assisted by a $1.76 million Industry Growth Program grant.

Lithium-sulfur batteries have the potential to deliver increased energy density versus conventional lithium-ion batteries.

Picture: credit Li-S Energy   

Further reading

Li-S Energy becomes first Australian company to produce lithium foils

Li-S Energy partners with Kea Aerospace for multi-month UAV flights

Li-S Energy reports breakthrough in drone battery technology

Li-S Energy achieves increased energy density in pouch cell tests

Li-S Energy lithium sulphur battery powers UAV flight