The Queensland Government will make a $15 million investment to scale up the National Battery Testing Centre (NBTC) in Brisbane. The NBTC tests multiple types and sizes of battery systems in real-world conditions and will be an essential part of ramping up battery manufacturing in Queensland.
Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said energy storage is the key to unlocking Queensland’s renewable energy revolution.
“It also represents a chance to build new manufacturing capacity in Queensland, supporting more secure, skilled jobs.
“As we progress towards our 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030, we want to ensure Queenslanders benefit from the thousands of jobs that will be created in the batteries sector as part of the global transition to a low carbon future.
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said what the challenges in the National Energy Market show is that as we move to a more diversified energy system, batteries are absolutely critical to keeping prices low.
“Queensland’s publicly-owned power companies are already investing in more than 430MW of batteries with more to come.”
The $15 million investment in the NBTC is expected to leverage up to $35 million in university and industry investment providing a total funding injection of approximately $50 million over five years.
NBTC is a partnership between the state and federal governments, industry and the Queensland University of Technology.
NBTC provides validation and safety testing for all types of batteries with various chemistries, including lithium-ion, and the larger, redox flow batteries both made in Australia or internationally.
This enables the deployment of battery systems to meet Queensland’s rapidly growing large-scale energy storage requirements and puts Queensland-based battery manufacturers in the box seat to be market leaders.
Expansion of the centre will:
- Accelerate early-stage battery storage research into commercial outcomes by incorporating industry-aligned approaches to technology testing and validation
- Provide battery cell and system certification to Australian and international standards that is currently not available domestically, saving significant cost and time for Australian manufacturers
- Assist Australian battery manufacturers to rapidly develop market-ready products and require Australian battery developers and importers to use our Queensland-based facilities to achieve certification
- Provide testing capability for the validation and deployment of batteries in main grids, micro-grids and other large-scale applications such as electric vehicles, defence applications and mining
The Treasurer said investing to expand the NBTC would also strengthen Queensland’s skills development and training.
“The NBTC is already working with QUT’s School of Chemistry and Physics to offer industry-relevant projects for undergraduate students, as well as consulting on the redesign of QUT’s Bachelor of Science to strengthen the course’s links to industry and future clean energy practices,” he said.
“With major renewable energy investments already flowing into our state from the likes of Fortescue Future Industries, Acciona and Neoen, Queensland is the natural home for the country’s leading battery testing and certification facility.”
