The federal government will provide advanced technology and skills development to businesses building renewable energy technologies locally, following a $14 million fund to create the Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre.
The multi-million commitment, announced by Federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husik, was awarded to the team behind the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Center (FBICRC), following a 10-month bidding process.
Under the new entity name of Power Australia Limited, the Industry Development Center will establish five centers across the country to ensure nationwide opportunities. Power Australia CEO Shannon O’Rourke said the primary tasks would be to connect the clean tech ecosystem, commercialize Australian innovations and build capacity across the country.
Husik said batteries, renewable energy and other low-emission technologies offer huge opportunities for Australian industry to create jobs and sovereign capabilities critical to Australia’s economic success, and the $14 million investment in these emerging sectors will support Australians. There is targeted support to increase knowledge.
“This is consistent with what we are doing with our $15 billion National Reconstruction Fundwhich has renewables and low-emission technologies as one of its priority investment areas, once again demonstrating how linking government policies can better support Australian industry,” Husik said.
The desired outcomes of the Powering Australia Industry Growth Center (PAIGC) include increasing industry development and adoption, as well as increasing domestic demand for renewable energy technology and competitiveness in international renewable technology markets. Other priorities will be training workers to serve the renewable technology industry, enhancing business capabilities to overcome battery regulatory barriers, and developing home batteries and other renewable energy supply chains.
The PAIGC will fund network activities and provide services to help commercialize locally created renewable energy technologies and ideas, encourage relationships between critical mineral producers and renewable technology manufacturers, and build First Nations business management capabilities in renewable technologies. Will involve First Nations consultants to build. It is a part of the government Australia Made Battery SchemeTo provide advanced technology and skills development to businesses manufacturing renewable technologies locally.
In the coming weeks Power Australia will be contacting businesses across the country to discuss their participation in the PAIGC program, which will run from 2023-24 to 2026-27.
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