The 2020s are proving pivotal for automakers and battery manufacturers as they push to commercialise solid-state batteries (SSB) for electric vehicles (EVs). How is Australia placed to take advantage of this growing demand?
Some of the world’s largest companies such as CATL, BYD, Samsung and LG Energy Solution are committed to delivering SSB demonstration vehicles by 2027, before scaling up production by 2030, marking a significant shift in battery technology.
With this transition underway, Australia has a major opportunity to position itself as a key player in the global battery supply chain, producing the spodumene concentrate needed to satisfy projected demand increases.
While solid-state batteries are expected to eventually transition towards lithium metal anodes, most of the production over the next decade will rely on traditional anode materials such as graphite and graphite-silicon composites.
According to Benchmark’s solid-state batteries forecast, two-thirds of solid-state battery production in 2025 will still use these materials, strengthening the continued importance of lithium-ion battery components.
Australia is taking steps to capitalise on this shift by strengthening its lithium and critical minerals supply chains.
The country, already the leading supplier of the world’s lithium, is investing heavily in refining capacity to move further up the value chain.
Crucial to this supply is the Greenbushes lithium mine in Western Australia, which has been in operation for over 25 years, making this region, located about 250km south of Perth, the longest continuously-running mining area in the state.
Mt Marion, a joint venture between Mineral Resources and Ganfeng Lithium, is another key lithium mine in Australia.
Australia also holds over 4.8 million of identified JORC-compliant lithium reserves, with most of the country’s lithium supply exported to China as spodumene.
The Federal Government is pushing hard to uplift Australia’s participation in the global battery market, and recognised the importance of solid-state batteries in its Critical Minerals Strategy, with a goal to provide funding for research and development.
Initiatives such as the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) are fostering collaboration between industry and research institutions to advance battery innovation, including lithium-metal and solid-state battery technologies.
Current downstream lithium operations include Albemarle’s Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant and IGO’s Kwinana plant.
As solid-state technology moves towards lithium metal anodes by 2035, Australia’s strong resource base and government-backed initiatives could make it a crucial supplier for the next generation of EV batteries.
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