eLumina has officially opened Australia’s first factory capable of producing both community lithium batteries and electric vehicle (EV) chargers, with the first model set to roll off the production line in 2025.
The new $20 million Manufacturing and Development Centre on the Gold Coast is poised to strengthen Australia’s energy storage sector, addressing soaring global demand for batteries, eLumina said in a news release.
The factory is projected to produce 300 batteries and EV chargers annually, supporting up to 300 jobs on the Gold Coast.
eLumina’s Chief Executive Officer, Lisa Marsh, expressed pride in the new facility: “We are extremely proud to officially open our factory here in Yatala on the Gold Coast.”
“We are ambitious to back 300 highly technical and sought-after jobs, and we’re proud to partner with TAFE Queensland to support the training and pathways into these jobs.”
CEO of the Tech Council of Australia, Damian Kassabgi, highlighted Queensland’s emergence as a tech hotspot and manufacturing hub, stating, “Our goal is to have 1.2 million tech workers in Australia by 2030, and we’re proud to partner with Australian organisations like eLumina, whose jobs are supporting the renewable energy sector.”
Reiterating the importance of these jobs in the renewable and smart energy sector, CEO of the Smart Energy Council, John Grimes, noted, “We’re proud to partner with eLumina and support them with their mission of securing a sustainable energy future for Australians and helping Australia become a global leader in this sector.”
“What the team at eLumina has done is truly innovative, applying cutting-edge practices to be the first in the country to manufacture community lithium batteries and EV chargers.”
eLumina’s partnership with Addelec aims to support the deployment of battery-integrated EV chargers focusing on regional connectivity.
Chris McPherson, general manager at Addelec, emphasised the need for a tailored approach to Australia’s vast landscape: “When we look globally, especially at places like Europe with a high uptake of EVs, they’re navigating smaller and more densely populated areas. When we zoom out to the sheer size of Australia, we need to take a different approach.”
McPherson added, “Considering existing power challenges across Australia, we hope to see an increase in EV users nationwide.”
Looking ahead, eLumina said it is ambitious about the future of battery manufacturing in Queensland.
Marsh noted, “Our goal is for our next factory to be three times the size, with the potential to employ up to 300 people directly and support many more.”“Our factory diversifies Australia’s manufacturing industry, building economic resilience and contributing to energy sovereignty and strengthening a ‘Gold Coast Made’ economy.”
In conclusion, Marsh stated, “We’re proud to be contributing to Australia’s energy future through pushing the dial forward on battery storage to secure Australia’s energy future and support the transition to net-zero.”
