Gelion secures $4.8 Million ARENA funding for sulphur battery development
Gelion’s work in alternative battery technologies aims to position Australia as a key player in the international battery market.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $4.8 million in matched funding for Sydney-based University of Sydney spin-off Gelion Technologies Pty Ltd. The funding will support the creation of an Advanced Commercial Prototyping Centre (ACPC) to advance development of Gelion’s sulphur battery technology.
The $9.6 million project will focus on two battery chemistries, lithium-sulphur (Li-S) and silicon-sulphur (Si-S), which offer higher energy density. This can increase energy storage per unit of weight, making these batteries well-suited for transport applications such as electric vehicles and electric aviation. The batteries also aim to provide more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable energy storage solutions.
The global demand for batteries is expected to grow significantly, with electric vehicles accounting for the largest share of demand by 2030. Gelion’s sulphur battery technology aims to address key challenges in battery development, with the funding to be used to validate the batteries’ performance and durability. If successful, the technology could expand advanced battery manufacturing capabilities in Australia.
ARENA Acting CEO Chris Faris said the project has the potential to drive new developments in energy storage technology. “Energy storage is a critical component in the clean energy transition, and this project which aims to demonstrate the potential of alternative battery chemistries, could be a game changer,” he said.
The project will begin once Gelion secures additional co-funding. It will enable testing with potential customers to guide investment decisions on a future pilot manufacturing plant. If successful, the company plans to scale up production of its sulphur batteries.
The project coincides with ARENA’s Battery Breakthrough Initiative, which is set to launch in late 2024 or early 2025. This initiative focuses on improving energy storage technologies to help support Australia’s clean energy transition.
“Whether it is for storage, transport or operating at grid scale, batteries will be a fundamental part of how we live and work in the future," Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said. "Batteries that outperform current models through improved energy density will be highly sought after, both locally and around the world, which is why this investment makes sense for Australians.”
Gelion CEO John Wood was optimistic that the funding would seed sector wide momentum, saying “Australia has developed a small but strong community of battery innovators attaining global recognition. Gelion is part of this community, and this project is key to our own growth and will also continue to develop battery technology development and commercialisation capabilities in Australia.”
