The Gold Coast will be home to Australia’s first factory capable of producing both community lithium batteries and EV chargers as eLumina’s $20 million manufacturing facility approaches completion.
The factory will produce 300 batteries a year and create 300 jobs on the Gold Coast, capable of serving up to 100 Queensland households with reliable and cheaper renewable energy.
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eLumina CEO Lisa Marsh said onshore manufacturing of critical EV technology, such as chargers and batteries, was essential to Australia’s energy future.
“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,” she said.
“Through battery storage we can capture this energy and ensure reliable and cheaper off-grid power to all Australians. This insulates communities from power outages and saves them money.
“Queensland has the potential to become a world leader in next-generation battery manufacturing and research and development. Our centre is just the start of that. We are committed to making a fundamental difference to Australia’s clean energy economy.
“We’re building this facility using local talent and locally sourced parts and materials. Once it’s completed, it will support 300 high-skilled jobs, which will draw on the region’s talent.”
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the Gold Coast had an ambitious plan to secure a larger slice of the clean energy sector and the high skilled jobs it’s creating.
“Our Economic and Climate Resilience and Sustainability Strategies are all about backing the Gold Coast to use renewable energy and boost the uptake of renewables.
“I’m excited to see the thousands of EV chargers and batteries set to be deployed in Australia over the coming years to be stamped ‘Made on the Gold Coast’.”
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To accelerate the deployment of its EV chargers across the country, eLumina has partnered with Addelec (formerly known as Gemtek), a leading installer of EV charging stations with national asset management capabilities.
The factory is set to be operational by August 2024.
