WHY IMPORTANT TO WISCONSIN: The government and private companies are investing in the industry, presenting potential opportunities for Wisconsin companies in that sector.
Australia’s battery industry is on a roll—with a significant push from the government—as the country moves forward with plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
In 2023, a record 57,000 renewable energy battery storage systems were installed in Australian homes, a 21% increase over the previous year, and record amounts of power storage were installed in businesses and in grid-scale projects, as well.
In all, 2,468 megawatt-hours’ (MWh) worth of energy storage was added in Australia in 2023, according to the SunWiz Australian Battery Market Report. That’s considered enough to meet the power needs of 125,000 homes.
Battery system installation will be even stronger in 2024, with “capacity currently under construction at six times the amount at the same point last year,” SunWiz managing director Warwick Johnston said.
The government released a National Battery Strategy in May 2024 that calls for Australia to build knowledge, skills, manufacturing capacity, and secure supply chains that will make the country a “globally competitive producer of batteries and battery materials” by 2035.
The 2024-25 budget includes $532.2 million AUD ($350.6 million USD) for a Battery Breakthrough program to provide incentives for manufacturers to produce high-value battery products and to build capacity in areas such as stationary energy storage. It also includes $20.3 million AUD ($13.4 million USD) in incentives for battery research and development.
Several major projects already are underway. They include:
• Western Australia state-owned energy retailer Synergy is constructing the 500-megawatt (MW) Collie Battery Energy Storage System, which is set to become one of the largest ones in Australia.
• Two Australian clean energy developers, Sustainable Energy Infrastructure and ACEnergy, plan to build a portfolio of 27 small battery storage projects across three states, totaling 270 MWh.
• French renewables giant Neoen will start building its sixth big battery in Australia after securing a 197 MW contract.
Major projects in Australia often involve partnerships with local procurement and engineering firms like ACLE Service and UGL. These firms also engage with leading international suppliers to fill gaps in equipment and solutions, presenting potential opportunities for Wisconsin businesses with expertise in battery manufacturing or energy storage to partner with local players.
