New portable battery moves towards local manufacturing

Product shot of a portable battery manufactured by Density
Image: Density

A Melbourne-developed battery that can power a home or be taken on the road is moving towards local production, backed by $6.77 million in funding support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

Clutch Industries will establish and operate a scalable manufacturing line in Victoria for its portable PowerNet battery—a modular4 kWh battery made using solid-state battery cells.

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The solid-state battery architecture delivers a safer, lighter, and a more compact energy storage system. PowerNet units can be combined to form a household energy storage system or used individually to power caravans, 4WDs, boats and other off-grid applications.

Clutch Industries CEO Brad Davis said, “Clutch Industries has a long history of Australian manufacturing, and through our Density battery business, we’re building on that experience to develop next generation energy storage solutions right here in Australia. ARENA’s support will help us take the next major step in scaling up local battery manufacturing.

“Our vision for Density goes well beyond a single product. We’re unlocking product innovation, using breakthroughs in battery technology to create solutions that were previously impractical or simply not possible.

“With Density products already available through major Australian retailers, we’re excited to continue expanding the brand, growing our manufacturing capabilities and bringing Australian-developed battery technology to more consumers.”

The project is expected to help move the technology from product development into scalable Australian manufacturing. Testing will also provide practical evidence about the battery’s real-world performance.

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The project is being supported through ARENA’s Battery Breakthrough Initiative.

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