New battery strategy to drive battery manufacturing

The federal government has today released Australia’s first National Battery Strategy, supporting a Future Made in Australia as global demand for batteries is set to quadruple by 2030.

According to a joint announcement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Industry Minister Ed Husi, the Strategy maps a path for Australia to take advantage of this growth to build a thriving battery industry.

It identifies four high-value strategic opportunities in stationary energy storage, processing minerals to produce battery active materials, boosting battery research and developing batteries for heavy vehicles.

Funding for the strategy was included in last week’s Budget:

• $523.2 million for the Battery Breakthrough Initiative, administered by ARENA, to promote the development of battery manufacturing capabilities through production incentives targeted at the highest value opportunities in the supply chain
• $1.7 billion for a new Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund, administered by ARENA, to accelerate deployment of innovative technologies and facilities through support for innovation, commercialisation, pilot and demonstration projects
• And $20.3 million for Building Future Battery Capabilities to incentivise cutting edge battery research.

Building Future Battery Capabilities allowed for the establishment of a Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre and a Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre to develop workforce skills and training.

Husic said: “Australia is a pioneer of battery tech, yet for too long we’ve sent our ideas offshore and lost the good jobs they create.

“A strong battery industry can supercharge our path to net zero and create a Future Made in Australia.

“The global clean energy transition is happening – and we’ve got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Australia to create more well-paid, secure jobs.”

The strategy builds on a range of existing initiatives including the Industry Growth Program, Solar Sunshot, the National Reconstruction Fund and the Critical Minerals Facility.

Husic said: “Australia is moving beyond a ‘dig and ship’ economy to become a renewable energy superpower.

“It’s inexcusable that we supply half the global supply of lithium but produce less than one percent of the world’s processed battery components.”

Picture: Ed Husic