Australia's Li-S Energy opens 2-MWh battery cell production facility

Australia's Federal Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, on Friday opened a 2-MWh lithium sulfur and lithium metal battery production facility of Australian battery technology firm Li-S Energy (ASX:LIS), located in Geelong in the Australian state of Victoria.

Li-S Energy is commercialising technology from Deakin University for lithium sulfur and lithium metal batteries, which are much lighter than lithium-ion batteries -- an advantage in applications such as drones, electric aviation and defence.

The new AUD-10-million (USD 6.6m/EUR 6m) pouch cell production facility covers the complete production process from creating and coating cathode powders to final cell fabrication and testing, the company said.

During the event, the minister announced a AUD-1.7-million grant to enable Li-S Energy to produce high-quality lithium foils and laminates from lithium metal ingots for use in its batteries and for export.

“Australia currently produces 52% of the world’s lithium ore, yet much of this is exported without adding additional value. With global demand for lithium metal foil forecast to reach USD 51 billion (EUR 46.7bn) by 2032, Australia has a unique opportunity to capitalise on this emerging market to produce lithium foils here, adding value here, before exporting this high-value product to global markets,” said Li-S Energy CEO Lee Finniear.

(AUD 1 = USD 0.660/EUR 0.604)

(USD 1 = EUR 0.915)

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