The Federal Government has launched industry consultations to inform its big battery strategy. 

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic launched the talks with a session at the Hunter Valley, which will be pushed to undergo a dramatic industrial shift on the path to net zero emissions.

“This'll be a tight consultation of about four weeks,” he said.

“We don't have a moment to lose because we've wasted so many of these moments over the past few years, not recognising that a lot of this activity will create great jobs.

“Especially in our regions that are hungry to get involved.”

State and federal governments are focusing on coal-heavy areas as sites to construct new renewable energy projects, in order to help the local workforce remain employed. 

Origin Energy, the owner of NSW’s Eraring coal-fired power station, plans to build a battery on the site after it closes in 2025.

“We've got many, many years until the coal industry has some issues,” says federal member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi, a former coal miner.

“We have the best rail network in the world, with the best port in the world, exporting the best coal  in the world.”

He said there is a need for everyone to work together “and make sure that we're getting those manufacturing jobs up into the Hunter, up into areas like Tomago, into the whole of this region”. 

Globally, Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates that 387 gigawatts of new energy storage will be added by 2030, providing an enticing opportunity for Australian battery industries. 

A discussion paper on the new strategies can be found here.