Deakin Supports Local Industry to Advance Battery Technology

Source: Sally Wood

Deakin University is delivering cleaner and greener batteries through a growing partnership with Li-S Energy. The initiative will see the company significantly expand its production capabilities in Geelong and strengthen industryled research development. The Executive Director of Deakin Research Innovations, Ross Mahon said Deakin had entered into the arrangement to enable Li-S Energy to increase production capacity for lithium sulphur and lithium metal batteries. "This is a cornerstone agreement in the realisation of Deakin's Recycling and Renewable Energy Commercialisation Hub, which aims to drive a sustainable manufacturing revolution," he said. These materials will be produced on-site at Deakin's Geelong Waurn Ponds campus, in a new ManuFutures 3 building. Deakin has played a significant role in the genesis of Li-S Energy, which began as a joint venture between Ppk Group Limited and BNNT Technology Limited in 2019. It then launched on the Australian Stock Exchange to become a multi-million dollar company last year. The Chief Executive Officer of Li-S Energy, Dr Lee Finniear said the company was excited to establish its new facility as part of Deakin's advanced manufacturing precinct in Geelong. "It continues to give us access to world class researchers, cements our long-term partnership with Deakin, and will bring additional skilled jobs to regional Victoria," Dr Finniear said. The new space will expand production capacity for lithium sulphur batteries to over 1,000 cells per week, which translates to in excess of two megawatt hours of production capacity per annum. In addition, it has several adjoining research labs to ensure close and ongoing cooperation between research and production teams. Dr Finniear said the focus on renewable energy is leading to an increased demand for lighter and environmentallyfriendly batteries, which boast a longer life-cycle. "Our work with Deakin enables us to test and develop our current technology to deliver an even better battery," he said. These batteries have a wide range of applications in electric transport, including electric buses and unmanned aircraft, and for use in large-scale energy storage. They are energy dense, which means they can store more energy per kilogram of battery. Deakin's work with Li-S Energy also forms part of an important battery research and development program within the university's rapidly expanding BatTRI-Hub, which sits under the Institute for Frontier Materials. BatTRI-Hub Director Professor Patrick Howlett said the partnership has highlighted the important work needed to provide world-leading research expertise. "Li-S Energy will benefit from our team’s extensive expertise in battery development and, in particular, our experience with lithium metal batteries.” "Our goal is to use our expertise to work with partners to translate Australian battery technology from proof-ofconcept, to prototype, to production-level energy-storage products,” he said. Professor Howlett added that the project also supports local industry with the testing and manufacture of battery technology. Li-S Energy is one of many specialised companies that BatTRIHub will partner with as it establishes a new $9.5 million facility at Deakin's Melbourne campus. Together, it involves upgrading the current BatTRI-Hub facility to include a testing lab and pilot production line to research and manufacture advanced lithium and sodium batteries. The expansion project includes a $5.2 million contribution from the Victorian Government through the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund.