Manufacturing in the battery sector is set for further development, with Voltavate’s manufacturing-integrated separator technology receiving backing from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) in a $3.55 million pilot-scale program aimed at advancing battery manufacturing capabilities.
In a media release, the company said the manufacturing sector is facing increasing pressure as global demand for batteries grows, with producers required to scale output while maintaining performance, safety and cost efficiency amid concentrated supply chains and reliance on specialised third-party suppliers.
Voltavate, based in Melbourne, said its approach rethinks how a key battery component is produced by integrating separator manufacturing directly into the production process, rather than sourcing it externally.
“This project marks a critical step in moving from lab-scale development into real manufacturing environments,” said Voltavate CEO Amir Hooshang Taheri.
“We’re focused on improving how batteries are made—reducing production waste, enabling scalable manufacturing, and giving manufacturers more control over a key component of the battery,” he noted.
ARENA chief executive Darren Miller said the project highlights opportunities for Australia to strengthen its role in global battery supply chains through advanced manufacturing capability.
“This project demonstrates how Australia can play a stronger role in the global battery value chain by supporting the development of advanced manufacturing capabilities for clean energy technologies,” Miller said.
“ARENA’s support helps accelerate the transition from innovation to real-world deployment, strengthening local capability while contributing to more resilient and scalable battery manufacturing globally.”
Voltavate said that, under conventional battery manufacturing processes, separators are typically produced separately by a limited number of suppliers, creating supply chain dependencies and limiting flexibility. Its platform instead enables manufacturers to produce separators directly on existing production lines, similar to electrode manufacturing.
The company said the pilot-scale program will establish manufacturing capability in Melbourne, integrate the technology into battery cells, and support independent testing to validate performance and safety under real-world conditions.
It added that prototype cells will be produced for customer evaluation as part of the pathway toward commercial deployment.
