Australia-first battery factory in Maryborough gets $40m investment
An Australia-first commercial scale battery factory built in Maryborough has been boosted by $40 million from a private international investment fund.
Fraser Coast
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Australia’s first manufacturing plant for grid-scale batteries with a commercial-scale factory will be built in Maryborough.
The state government announced on Monday that its $25 million investment had attracted another $40 million of international private funding to help establish the commercial-scale manufacturing factory for iron-flow batteries.
The government’s $25 million debt and equity investment attracted $40 million from a UK-based investment fund to accelerate the development of the local industry and secure its future in the state.
Early works have begun at the Maryborough site which, when fully operational by mid-2029, will create up to 273 full-time jobs.
The plan to draw a major battery builder to Maryborough’s manufacturing hub has been in the works for years, with the project now looking certain to come to fruition.
Flow battery technology has the potential to deliver longer duration energy storage of up to 14 hours, which is vital as the world continues to decarbonise and increase its generation of clean and renewable energy, a state government statement said.
The government’s investment will position the company to solidify meaningful relationships and potential collaborations with publicly owned energy corporations.
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick was in Maryborough for the announcement and said the state was well-placed to seize the incredible opportunities presented by the world’s decarbonisation.
“Our investment in ESI is part of our commitment to firmly establish a new battery manufacturing industry right here in Queensland,” he said.
“Through investments like this we meet our own future clean energy storage needs and take advantage of the massive export opportunities.
“Most importantly, this investment supports new technology and manufacturing jobs, creating more than 270 highly skilled jobs in regional Queensland.”
Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs, Mick de Brenni said the announcement of more than 270 skilled jobs in Maryborough was further proof Queensland’s decarbonisation was creating new jobs in the regions.
Maryborough’s incumbent Labor MP Bruce Saunders said the city had a proud manufacturing history and this investment ensured there would be manufacturing jobs in Maryborough for years to come.
“This investment demonstrates the Miles Labor Government’s Queensland Battery Industry Strategy is delivering the good manufacturing jobs of the future, especially in regional Queensland,” he said.
ESI Asia Pacific Managing Director Stuart Parry said ESI was a Queensland-based, Australian-owned manufacturer of proven grid-scale battery technology that solves a key problem in the energy transition – how to provide renewable grid-scale energy overnight.
“Thanks to this farsighted support from Treasury and private investors, the first production of Australian-made grid-scale batteries will take place in Queensland by the end of 2025,” he said.
“Importantly, key battery components will be sourced from throughout Queensland, supporting businesses and creating skilled jobs in local communities.”
The Queensland Conservation Council welcomed the major development in the project.
Campaigner Stephanie Gray said Queensland could be a winner as the world decarbonised.
“The Queensland Government’s investment in renewable energy and new manufacturing industries is helping the sunshine state make the most of our natural advantages to power future-proof jobs.
“Flow batteries are a really exciting emerging technology that have an unlimited life cycle and a long duration of between 8 to 14 hours.
“If we ensure that critical mineral mining is done to the highest environmental standard in Australia we can provide products to the world that are ethical and environmentally sound. That’s a win for regional communities, a win for our economy, and a win for nature.
“Queensland has a natural clean energy advantage, but to secure new manufacturing opportunities we need policy certainty and bipartisan support.”
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