ATSE welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources consultation on the National Battery Strategy. The National Battery Strategy provides an opportunity for the Australian Government to embrace a technology-led transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions and emerge as a leader in battery technologies. ATSE argues that the National Battery Strategy should promote both the development and deployment of batteries in Australia, taking a comprehensive and integrated approach, utilising natural resource endowments and setting up appropriate manufacturing capabilities to enable commercialisation and production to meet national demand and build a strong export market. ATSE recommends the following actions to be included in the National Battery Strategy:
Recommendation 1: Develop policies that encourage the use of Australia’s abundant natural resource endowments and take a value-added strategy to domestically produce advanced batteries, for both Australian and international markets.
Recommendation 2: Invest in research institutes that carry out fundamental research and support them to connect with domestic pathways for development, to advance battery technologies.
Recommendation 3: Invest in STEM education and training programs to develop sufficient skilled personnel to support a thriving domestic battery industry.
Recommendation 4: Establish hubs that specialise in different aspects of the battery value chain.
Recommendation 5: Drive investment in prototyping and manufacturing infrastructure to establish efficient and technology-forward modern battery manufacturing capabilities.
Recommendation 6: Develop policies such as supply chain tracking that establish supply chain resilience to improve Australia’s strategic position in the global battery economy.
Recommendation 7: Develop circular economy-supporting policies that require the reuse and recycling of critical components across the value chain and leverage technological advances that contribute to this goal.
Recommendation 8: Establish policies that require the use of renewable sources of energy for domestic battery manufacturing.
Recommendation 9: Establish standards and regulations in collaboration with domestic and global stakeholders to ensure battery safety, performance, and reliability in both primary and secondary markets.
Recommendation 10: Develop standards to help support the commercialisation of new and emerging battery technologies.
Recommendation 11: Embed Environmental Social Governance requirements through stakeholder consultations in the National Battery Strategy.
