Australia’s first factory capable of producing both community lithium batteries and EV chargers is approaching completion on the Gold Coast.
The $20 million manufacturing facility, owned by eLumina, is set to revolutionise the country’s clean energy and electric vehicle sectors.
The factory will have an annual production capacity of 300 batteries, creating 300 jobs on the Gold Coast.
These batteries will be capable of serving up to 100 Queensland households with reliable and more affordable renewable energy.
Lisa Marsh, CEO of eLumina, emphasised the importance of on-shore manufacturing for critical EV technology.
She stated: “Global demand for batteries is soaring. We have record solar uptake and energy generation in Australia, but we need battery storage at scale to harness its full potential.”
The facility will not only manufacture products but also house a research and development training centre.
This centre aims to upskill hundreds of Queenslanders, providing them with expertise in the evolving battery and EV charging sector.
eLumina’s product range includes community batteries of various sizes, from 200kW/233kWh to 1500kW/1491kW.
These batteries are designed to address unstable, low-power supplies in remote and rural areas.
The company is also exploring applications in critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, to provide backup power during blackouts.
In addition to community batteries, eLumina produces EV chargers.
The company’s flagship charger, the D2, is a battery-less EV charger that can be coupled with their community batteries.
This combination offers a unique solution for areas with limited grid capacity.
To accelerate the deployment of its EV chargers across Australia, eLumina has partnered with Addelec, an installer of EV charging stations.
Chris McPherson, Addelec’s General Manager, noted the growing demand for EV charging infrastructure and praised eLumina’s D1 charger with built-in battery storage as a great option for Australia’s power challenges.
The establishment of this factory aligns with the Australian government’s recently released National Battery Strategy, which aims to boost local manufacturing in the battery sector.
eLumina’s rapid progress in setting up local production, just 12 months after its launch, is partly attributed to Marsh’s experience consulting in China.
The factory is expected to be operational by August 2024, marking a significant milestone in Australia’s journey towards energy independence and sustainability in the EV sector.