$2.1 million Clean Technology grant for battery project awarded to Thornton Business     

The Minns Labor Government has granted more than $2.1 million to Allegro Energy Pty Ltd to fund an early-stage project to develop a low-cost, long-use battery to store energy from renewables.

The grant of $2,128,196 is one of four grants totalling $7 million from the NSW Environmental Trust’s Clean Technology Research and Development Grant Program.

Each grantee’s project is in the early stages of shifting emissions-reducing technologies towards real-world use.

Allegro’s long-duration energy storage project is developing a low-cost, locally made battery.  The company’s proprietary Microemulsion Flow technology has been recognised as a critical energy breakthrough because it offers many advantages over other long duration storage technologies.

The aim is to create a safer, water-based battery prototype capable of storing energy for more than 10 hours.

Key components will be manufactured in Australia, primarily in NSW, to address the increasing demand for energy storage from renewable sources like solar and wind.

The Clean Tech grants program invests in the research and development of technologies to support emissions reduction in high-emitting or hard-to-abate industries.

The grantee’s projects are across a range of technologies and areas, including:

• energy systems
• land and primary industries and
• power fuels.

Each successful project promotes collaboration and knowledge-sharing to foster ecosystems which support innovation, development, testing and commercialisation of clean technologies in New South Wales.

The Clean Tech R&D grants received nearly 80 expressions of interest, with 24 invited to submit a full application. Four projects were awarded a grant.

Other grant amounts and grantees awarded in this round include:

• $2,999,963 – Rux Energy Pty Ltd proposes to bring together a group of key NSW hydrogen experts and companies to develop a hybrid composite to develop more efficient hydrogen storage for aerospace.
• $292,000 – Number 8 Bio Pty Ltd propose a scalable cattle methane mitigation technology, through its methane mitigation additives in beef and dairy feedlot farming in collaboration with the Queensland Animal Sciences Precinct.
• $1,588,959 – Plasma Leap Technologies Pty Ltd to develop a carbon-free method of combining plasma and electrolysis for producing ammonia, a key ingredient in agricultural fertiliser.

The Minns Labor Government has made action on climate change a whole of government priority and has legislated emissions reduction targets to reach net zero by 2050. While climate change is an environmental challenge, it poses an economic opportunity. Businesses and investors will help NSW build a new base of economic prosperity that maximises opportunities from new technologies and industries.

 Quote attributable to Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe:

“Congratulations to these companies which have thought outside the box and backed themselves to develop solutions to reduce industry emissions.

“Government, industry and the public all need to work together to address the most pressing issue of our time – climate change, which is driven by excessive emissions.

“Research and Development work is the key creative area we need to leverage to find new ways forward, and we’re pleased to support them.”

 Quote attributable to Jenny Aitchison, Member for Maitland:

“I am delighted to see Thornton-based company Allegro Energy receive this grant for research and development in the clean technology arena, in an effort to reduce emissions in industry.

“I am proud this innovative work is happening on our doorstep with the key components manufactured in Australia.

“Congratulations to Allegro Energy for its work to create a safer, water-based battery prototype capable of storing energy from renewable sources.”

Quote attributable to Thomas Nann, CEO and Co-founder Allegro Energy:

 “We are grateful for the grant, which enables us to rapidly develop battery manufacturing locally to help deliver a clean energy future for Australia and the rest of the world.

“Being located in the Hunter region is a bonus for us because the skills we need are all available in our local community, which is currently grappling with a transition from its traditional industries.”