ARENA injects $25m to Relectrify’s battery energy system

The funding will allow the company to deploy its system in various markets.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has allocated $25m to support Melbourne-based company Relectrify’s battery energy storage project.

In a statement, ARENA said the funding will support the rollout of AC1. Relectrify aims to deploy up to 100 megawatt-hours of AC1 systems in the commercial and industrial, and small front-of-meter markets.

The system uses a unique battery management system that controls each battery cell to directly produce AC power. This design reduces battery degradation and can deliver 20% more energy over its lifetime, helping to lower energy storage costs.  

“What began as a project to reuse end-of-life batteries has now grown into a world-class battery management technology with the potential to transform energy storage,” ARENA CEO Darren Miller said.

“By backing home-grown innovators like Relectrify, we’re helping to bring forward technologies that could unlock new value from batteries and support the transition to a more flexible, low-emissions grid,” he added.

The project will also deliver a comprehensive knowledge-sharing programme, including case studies and performance data on battery performance, supporting industry-wide learning and complementing ARENA’s existing priorities of renewable integration and improving grid stability.