CSIRO Identifies Battery Manufacturing Opportunities
A CSIRO report finds Australia could make battery cell cans and copper current collector foil domestically, rather than exporting value offshore.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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CSIRO has identified two practical opportunities to manufacture lithium-ion battery components in Australia, namely prismatic battery cell cans from local aluminium and copper current collector foil. The report, The future of Australian battery manufacturing: Cell cans and current collector foils, was funded through the AU-USA Battery R&D Grant.
Why it matters
Most of Australia's critical minerals are exported, and much of the lithium-ion battery value chain's value is currently captured offshore. Bringing more manufacturing onshore could allow Australia to create higher-value products and skilled jobs.
Copper foil used in lithium-ion batteries can be six microns thick, and the global value chain could exceed US$400 billion by 2030. The report does not provide production volumes or capital costs for the proposed facilities.
The players
CSIRO
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency, which authored the report and established the Australian Battery Safety Facility.
The details
The analysis identifies aluminium prismatic cans manufactured through impact extrusion and copper current collector foil made through electrolytic deposition. The report finds Australia could feasibly manufacture cylindrical, prismatic and blade battery cell formats, with aluminium prismatic cans as a practical starting point.
Timeline
2030: Global lithium-ion battery value chain projected to exceed US$400 billion.
Roadmap
The National Battery Strategy notes that 96 per cent of the total revenue opportunity is expected to occur downstream of mining. This CSIRO analysis points to specific component manufacturing that could capture part of that downstream value in Australia.
For drivers, domestic battery component manufacturing could eventually influence the supply and cost of electric vehicle batteries. The report does not set out any timeline for when local production would affect prices or availability.
The takeaway
Australia's battery opportunity extends beyond mining into manufacturing the components made from mined materials. Capturing more of that value onshore would depend on whether commercial facilities follow the identified opportunities.
Further reading
Explore more on Electric Vehicles and how battery supply chains are reshaping the industry.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Manufacturers' Monthly.
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Should Australia build more battery manufacturing at home instead of exporting raw minerals?
