During the launch, Minister Husic announced Li-S Energy had been awarded an Industry Growth Program (IGP) Commercialisation and Growth Grant of $1.7 million to develop Australia’s first lithium foil production facility.

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Li-S Energy is an Australian company, commercialising unique Australian IP from Deakin University for lithium sulfur and lithium metal batteries, which are far lighter than the comparable lithium-ion batteries. The batteries offer key performance advantages where weight is critical, such as in drones, electric aviation and defence applications.

The new state-of-the-art production facility is the largest of its kind in Australia, installed inside Australia’s largest battery dry room. Built at a cost of over $10 million, the facility spans the entire production process from creating and coating cathode powders to final cell fabrication and testing.

With the support of the IGP Grant announced by Minister Husic, Li-S Energy plans to extend beyond its cell manufacturing capability to produce high-quality lithium foils and laminates from lithium metal ingots.

Lithium metal foil is used as the anode for both lithium sulfur and lithium metal batteries, but current imported supply has limited quality and is not optimised for Li-S cells. This will be a new sovereign manufacturing capability for Australia, reducing supply chain risk and increasing the value of Australia’s advanced battery material exports.

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Li-S Energy CEO Dr Lee Finniear said, “Australia currently produces 52% of the world’s lithium ore, yet much of this is exported without adding additional value.

“With global demand for lithium metal foil forecast to reach US$51 billion by 2032, Australia has a unique opportunity to capitalise on this emerging market to produce lithium foils here, adding value here, before exporting this high-value product to global markets.”

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Minister for Industry and Science The Hon. Ed Husic said, “The global demand for batteries is set to quadruple by 2030 as the world transitions to net zero. Australia is already a leading producer of battery minerals, providing approximately 45% of the world’s lithium in 2023. While we mine critical minerals here, we currently make less than 1% of global battery materials or components.

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“The National Battery Strategy builds on Australia’s existing strengths and provides a pathway to move up the battery value chain and capitalise on key opportunities—such as manufacturing stationary energy storage systems and higher value battery active materials, building battery safety and security, and continuing to develop emerging battery chemistries. This will allow Australia to capture a once in a generation opportunity presented by a thriving domestic battery industry.”

The National Battery Strategy aims to see Australia become a globally competitive producer of batteries and battery materials by 2035, providing secure and resilient battery supply chains, delivering affordable and secure energy for Australians, boosting productivity and creating wealth and opportunity while being part of the global energy transition.

Five key priorities under the strategy include:

• Building battery manufacturing capabilities in ways that strengthen economic resilience, leverage Australia’s comparative advantages and add value to our economy.
• Building knowledge and skills to create secure Australian-made jobs.
• Securing Australia’s place in global battery supply chains.
• Leading the world on sustainability, standards and the circular economy.
• Bringing all levels of government together.

2024-25 Federal Budget funding

Funding of $523.2 million will incentivise the production of high-value battery products in Australia’s areas of advantage, such as stationary energy storage, to strengthen economic resilience and support critical battery manufacturing capabilities.

$20.3 million will help build future battery capabilities and strengthen national collaboration, including $9.9 million to the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) to map Australian battery capability and value chains, drive battery innovation and scale-up and deliver best practice guidelines and standards for the battery industry. $10 million will go to the Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre (PAIGC) to develop workforce skills and training to enable a safe and sustainable battery industry.

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$5.6 million has been committed to conduct foundational work to support the establishment of the Australian Made Battery Precinct, in partnership with the Queensland Government. This will help realise the Australian Government’s commitment to invest up to $100 million in the precinct.

The Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund will see $1.7 billion boost the deployment of innovation in priority industries, which includes clean energy technologies such as batteries manufacturing.

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The centre will fund activities and provide services to:

• help commercialise locally manufactured renewable energy technologies and ideas;
• encourage connections between critical minerals producers and renewable technology manufacturers;
• include a First Nations Advisor to build First Nations business management capabilities in renewable technologies.

The centre delivers on Labor’s election commitment under the Australia Made Battery Plan, to provide advanced technology and skills development to businesses looking to locally manufacture renewable technologies.

It also builds on the Government’s suite of support for the renewable technology industry, including Powering Australia, Rewiring the Nation and a Future Made in Australia.

The centre also aligns with the National Reconstruction Fund’s priority area of renewables, value adding in resources and low-emissions technologies.

Minister for Industry and Science the Hon. Ed Husic said, “Batteries, renewables and other low-emissions technologies offer huge opportunities for Australian industry to create jobs and the sovereign capabilities critical to our economic success.

“This $14 million investment is targeted support to grow Aussie know-how in these emerging areas.

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“It aligns with what we’re doing with our $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, which has renewable and low-emissions technologies as one of its priority investment areas, once again demonstrating how government linking up policies can better support Australian industry.”

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