PLS one of the partners here :) [link to reference] cheers...

PLS one of the partners here [link to reference]

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https://thewest.com.au/business/min...ralia-capturing-battery-opportunity-c-7478848


FBICRC pilot plant key step in Australia capturing battery opportunity

Stuart McKinnonThe West Australian
Mon, 11 July 2022 7:36AM
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Stuart McKinnon


Future Battery Industries Co-operative Research Centre chief executive Shannon O'Rourke. Credit: Trevor Collens/The West Australian

A new pilot plant producing high-value chemicals for electric vehicle batteries is part of a broader plan which could deliver $1 billion to the Australian economy and support 4800 jobs by 2030.

The Future Battery Industries Co-operative Research Centre — a collaboration of 19 industry, research and government participants — will unveil the plant at the CSIRO’s facility in Waterford on Monday.

The first of its kind in Australia, the cathode precursor production pilot plant aims to establish the technology and capabilities for Australia to design and build cathode precursor manufacturing facilities on a commercial and industrial scale.

Cathode precursors are precisely engineered materials and represent the highest cost component of a cell, and one of the final stages in the battery value chain.

The plant seeks to capitalise on Australia’s strong position in mining and its emerging battery metal refining industry.

The facility will link with other FBICRC projects across Australia, including the National Battery Testing Centre at the Queensland University of Technology, battery materials research at the University of Technology Sydney, electrolyte research at Deakin University and battery anode research at the University of Melbourne.

FBICRC chief executive Shannon O’Rourke said the launch of the plant was the culmination of several years of hard work, collaboration and integration by industry-leading partners and academic institutions, to progress the current and future needs of industry.

The plant is a refurbished pilot processing facility previously developed by BHP’s Nickel West in its plans to develop its nickel sulphate at its Kwinana refinery.

A pilot plant in Germany similar to the FBICRC's Waterford cathode precursor materials pilot plant. Credit: Konrad Goes

Mr O’Rourke said the incoming government had committed to a National Battery Strategy which would help to seize local battery manufacturing opportunities.

“The cathode precursor production pilot plant will be a key enabler to build an Australian manufacturing capability,” he said.

The global battery market is expected to grow by as much as tenfold by 2030 and 40-fold by 2050.
In a net-zero world, between now and 2050, more than $23 trillion is expected be spent on batteries.

Australia is well positioned to capture more of this value given an abundance of battery raw materials including nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite and lithium.

Cathode precursor materials are further processed to create cathodes in the battery cell.
The performance, durability, safety, and operating envelope of a cell are impacted by the properties of precursor materials.
Composition, shape, and surface properties must be controlled closely to ensure a cell performs reliably over many years.

The plant will run a series of test campaigns over the next 18 months.
Established in 2019, the FBICRC is a government-funded partnership of industry, government organisations and research partners focused on battery industries in Australia with 70 participants across 15 research projects and a total project value of $120 million.