Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and UNSW Sydney (UNSW) have agreed to form a strategic partnership that will advance the skills and capabilities needed for Australia’s renewable energy transition.
The partnership agreement includes working together to develop a Centre for Integrated Renewable Energy Training and Innovation (CIRETI) in Western Sydney, New South Wales.
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The proposed centre will build local capability, create a more adaptive education and training system, and ensure students are job ready for the fast evolving needs of the clean energy industry.
CIRETI will bring together UNSW’s world-leading research and educational expertise with CATL’s global leadership in advanced battery technology and energy systems in an Australia-first-of-kind collaboration.
The initial focus will be to explore opportunities in skills and talent development to support the delivery of local capability uplift for battery energy storage technologies, as well as in technology demonstration and collaborative research.
CATL Australia and New Zealand general manager Zane Zhou said, “CATL is delighted to be working with UNSW to advance Australia’s standing in the global energy transition.
“The next generation of Australia’s clean energy workforce will be centred around the integration of batteries and how they deliver reliable energy and system security to our grids.
“UNSW is our ideal partner and they are a global leader in energy research and engineering. Together, we will bring world class expertise to build the skills and capability needed across Australia and the Asia Pacific region.”
UNSW Pro Vice-Chancellor Industry and Innovation Professor Stephen Rodda said, “The net-zero transition is one of the defining challenges of our time, and meeting it will take more than new technology alone. It requires the skills, research and partnerships to turn innovation into practical capability at scale.
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“Through this partnership, UNSW and CATL will bring together education, collaborative research and industry expertise to advance energy storage and grid integration, create opportunities for our students and graduates, and help translate UNSW innovations into real-world impact. Together, we can build the workforce and capability Australia needs for a reliable, clean energy future.”
