Recharging interest in battery tech for Geelong

Recharge Industries is a leading provider of battery technology, specialising in production and research and development.

Based in Geelong, Australia, the firm is currently developing Australia’s first largescale lithium-ion cell production facility to provide safer, more efficient and recyclable batteries, as well as investing in research and development of next-generation solutions to real-world and emerging energy storage solutions.

Ampol to go electric with SEA

Ampol has partnered with Australian commercial electric vehicle manufacturer SEA Electric to support the transition of companies to zero-emissions commercial electric vehicle technology.

Recharge Industries has retained Jacobs to lead the design of its Australian advanced battery manufacturing production facility in Geelong.

Jacobs is globally recognised as one of the top firms in designing advanced manufacturing facilities and the company has delivered large scale facilities such as these in the EV industry and is well suited to design one of the world’s largest “Gigafactories” in Australia.

Through the partnership, SEA Electric and Ampol will be working together to develop flexible, sustainable and seamless charging options to support the uptake of lower emissions commercial vehicles in key parts of the transport sector.

Additionally, the partnership will focus on building an integrated charging solution for SEA Electric customers on the road at Ampol forecourts, at destinations and solutions at the workplace.

“Ampol is evolving to provide a range of fast and reliable charging solutions. We know our business customers are looking for lower emissions solutions and want to ensure their investment in commercial electric vehicles can be supported with efficient and reliable charging technologies,” James Myatt, Ampol’s General Manager, Energy, said.

“Ampol is committed to developing an open access national charging network as well as home and business charging solutions to ensure vehicles can be on the road whenever needed.” For SEA Electric, the partnership provides flexible charging options for electric truck owners, with many Ampol customers moving into the EV space in cars and now with light trucks. The partnership will help reduce range anxiety for businesses looking to invest in electric trucks to reduce their emissions.

Siemens and Swinburne’s Energy Transition Hub

Siemens and Swinburne University of Technology have agreed to set up the most advanced future Energy Transition Hub of its kind in Australia in at the University’s Hawthorn campus in Melbourne.

Featuring some of the most advanced digital energy technology from Siemens and the technical, R&D and teaching expertise of Swinburne, the $5.2 million hub aims to build a future energy grid laboratory accessible to students and industry.

twins of energy grids, map scenarios, research new findings, develop original and creative hypotheses, and test results. It will be home to a digital twin of Australia’s energy grid that commercial research teams can use to run simulations of new, innovative solutions and software.

At full capacity, Recharge Industries large scale lithium-ion battery cell production facility in Geelong will generate up to 30 gigawatt hours (GWh) of storage capacity per year for electric vehicles and stationary energy storage markets.

Construction will be phased to begin at 2GWh annual production and ramp up to 6GWh, 12GWh and then to 30GWh. As operations expand to 30GWh, the factory will employ an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 workers.

When fully operational, the hub will also offer researchers and industry the opportunity to work on solutions for greener, more efficient future energy systems using Siemens Xcelerator, a new open digital business platform and marketplace.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Professor Karen Hapgood said the new Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub will be working on new technologies to improve energy efficiency, supply, integration, storage, transport and use, as well as how we can improve existing technologies and frameworks.

The hub will enable users to leverage digital

As well as R&D and commercialisation projects, the hub will deliver short courses for industry professionals.

In addition to microgrid and planning stations, the Hub will also feature Siemens’ microgrid management system (MGMS) and decentralised energy optimisation platform (DEOP) software.

The microgrid technologies include Sicam A8000 and Siprotec 5 devices for control and protection. The planning stations feature Siemens PSS software which is used by over 70% of utilities and independent system operators including AEMO and grid operators.