Energy price volatility continues to pose challenges for manufacturers and other energy-intensive industries, particularly as electricity markets experience more frequent and unpredictable price swings.

For generations, battery storage efficiency has been dictated by a hidden limitation: the performance of its weakest cell. In traditional designs, interconnected cells create a vulnerability where a single underperforming component compromises the entire pack's output.

Unplanned downtime remains one of the most costly – and often misunderstood – challenges on the manufacturing floor.

As energy systems change at an unprecedented pace, businesses and grid operators are confronted with new pressures and prospects. From the rapid adoption of AI and electric vehicles to the increasing impact of extreme weather events, the demands on electricity networks are more complex than ever. 

Australia’s manufacturing sector spent 2025 navigating a complex mix of economic headwinds, technological acceleration and policy-driven transformation, as reflected in year-long coverage by Australian Manufacturing.