Siemens and Australia’s Next-Gen Energy Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the development and manufacture of innovative materials for battery firming technology.
The MoU will support Next-Gen’s efforts to establish the first materials manufacturing plant outside of China with world-leading innovations, to produce Li (NCA) cathode materials, primarily used in electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems, in Australia.
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Next-Gen CEO Andrew Cooper said, “It’s great to see a global technology leader like Siemens collaborate with us as we look to scale our innovative patented cathode materials production to support the energy transition.
“Australia is home to some of the most ingenious minds in the world. Our process will dramatically reduce the carbon footprint current value chain practices employ however, tackling a problem like climate change can’t be done alone.
“We see that by on-shoring manufacturing for the battery chain here in Australia, we can reduce the industry’s carbon footprint dramatically—particularly reducing scope three emissions, which are part of Net Zero commitments.
“This project will be the centrepiece for the battery value chain and has already attracted both upstream and downstream global investment and will help strengthen Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capabilities.
“Imagine a world where your battery technology lasts three to four times longer than the current technology does. Our technology will deliver this and at the same time halve the battery real estate required and allow battery charging in a fraction of the time it takes today,” Cooper said.
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Next-Gen will draw on Siemens’ core expertise in digitalisation, automation, and electrification to scale up onshore production of battery manufacturing technology that will ultimately increase sovereign capability. The agreement will build on Next-Gen’s expertise in advanced ternary cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
This MoU follows Next-Gen’s other agreements with major Australian research organisations on battery firming technology.
