Australian Built in Canberra: 150+ participants, 7 climate tech firms shown, $30 million ARENA Launchpad

The inaugural Australian Built event brought more than 150 founders, investors and policymakers to Canberra, Startup Daily reports in an account by Mick Liubinskas of Climate Salad. In the morning, Australian-built technology was shown to MPs, senators and ministers at Parliament House. More than 20 MPs and senators attended, and seven companies demonstrated their technology. In the afternoon, participants met at the Canberra Innovation Network to discuss what would help these companies grow in Australia. startupdaily.netStartup Dailystartupdaily.netOpen source ↗

Industry size and scale-up risk

According to the author, Australia has 15 operational climate and energy technology facilities, more than 5,000 manufacturing jobs and around $8 billion invested in electrolysers, battery materials, thermal storage and circular systems. He estimates the sector could support 20,000 manufacturing jobs and $100 billion in economic value by 2035.

The main risk, the author writes, sits in the scale-up phase: companies that cannot make the leap either close or move overseas. He cites Relectrify, which manufactures its AC1 battery system in Taiwan, Earthodic, which scaled commercial production in the United States, and v2food, which closed its Wodonga facility.

Minister Chris Bowen launched the ARENA Launchpad program, a $30 million funding pool for the next clean energy startups. startupdaily.netStartup Dailystartupdaily.netOpen source ↗

Proposals and companies shown

Seven discussion tables produced recommendations. They include an Emerging Markets Manufacturing Council, a $200 million regional co-investment fund and a $500 million First-of-a-Kind Commercial Plant Program. They also include government procurement of Australian-made batteries, electrolysers, thermal storage and solar, and ten-year offtakes for energy storage and industrial decarbonisation. The briefing has been sent to every MP and senator who took part.

The showcase featured MGA Thermal, Amber Electric, Allegro Energy, Sicona Battery Technologies, MCi Carbon, Gelion and Samsara Eco. Allegro Energy makes long-duration flow batteries, including a 100kW / 800kWh, eight-hour system for Origin Energy at Eraring. MCi Carbon has 55 manufacturing jobs in Newcastle, and Samsara Eco has 65 in Queanbeyan.

The author will join the Team Australia Business Mission at COP31 in Antalya in November. An Australian Built Climate Tech session is planned at the Australian Pavilion on 16 November at 4pm. startupdaily.netStartup Dailystartupdaily.netOpen source ↗