National Industry PhD Program accelerates research set to transform Australia’s energy future

What if batteries were non-toxic, non-flammable, cheap, abundant, and fully recyclable? AIBN and industry partner Energy Storage Industries (ESI) are chasing this very goal thanks to a new industry collaboration supported by the National Industry PhD Program (NIPP).

The NIPP brings industry and researchers together by providing funding to support industry professionals to complete a PhD in partnership with a university.

Former rocket industry engineer Daniel Chadwick, now with ESI, is one of a handful of Australian researchers working in the highly specialised field of flow batteries under the supervision of AIBN Associate Professor Bin Luo.

Together, the team - including collaborators from Fraunhofer Institute in Germany and the University of New South Wales Sydney - hope their work will help improve the power output and cost-effectiveness of flow batteries, making them a more viable option for grid-scale energy storage.

“The equipment, expertise and collaborators facilities at AIBN allow us to progress our technology - without it, we couldn't do this,” Daniel said.

“Industries often can’t afford to have their people give up work to go back to uni, but this program enables that collaboration.

“There’s so much expertise throughout the university that you can just go and talk to somebody. Even people not specifically on the project bring different perspectives.”

Associate Professor Bin Luo applauded the NIPP for providing research opportunities that may not have otherwise been possible.

“It’s fantastic to have Daniel and his expertise on board because when researchers work hand-in-hand with industry, we find solutions for society’s problems sooner,” Professor Luo said.

Lithium batteries typically provide up to four hours of storage and researchers know flow systems can deliver 12 hours or more.

“If we can improve their efficiency and cost, they could make a huge difference for grid stability, renewable energy adoption, and even electricity accessibility in developing countries,” Daniel said.

Associate Professor Bin Luo said the collaboration has the potential to transform Australia’s energy future.

“Daniel brings deep, practical industry knowledge that helps focus our research on the real-world challenges facing the commercial rollout of these technologies.

“This is exactly the kind of collaboration the National Industry PhD Program was designed to support.”

As the world moves towards large-scale renewable energy, innovations like these may play a critical role in ensuring clean, affordable, and reliable energy for the future.