Gelion plc has commenced work on its Advanced Commercial Prototyping Centre (ACPC) in Sydney following the award of a AUD 4.8 million (approximately £2.3 million) grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
Beginning on 9 July 2025, this funding will be matched by Gelion to support both capital and operating expenses over three years, representing a combined project budget of AUD 9.6 million (~£4.6 million).
An initial capital expenditure of roughly £300,000 will be funded 50% by the ARENA grant. With the necessary facility infrastructure and team already in place—also supported at 50% by the grant’s operating expenditure allocation—Gelion is ready to initiate project activities immediately.
Aligned with its recent market-facing progress, including a materials testing agreement signed in April with a tier-one battery manufacturer, Gelion will first focus on scaling production of Sulfur Cathode Active Materials (CAM). Subsequent phases will expand cell prototyping capabilities for next-generation Lithium Sulfur (Li-S) and Silicon Sulfur (Si-S) batteries.
Key objectives of the ACPC include:
- Scaling Sulfur CAM production
- Producing and optimizing next generation Lithium Sulfur (Li-S) and Silicon Sulfur (Si-S) batteries;
- Conducting testing and validation with global partners and prospective customers
ARENA’s investment acknowledges the potential of Gelion’s sulfur-based battery technology to drive the global energy transition.
It builds on the company’s recent technical and commercial milestones, such as:
- A materials testing collaboration with a tier-one battery manufacturer
- A strategic research partnership with Germany’s Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
- Early performance data showcasing high power output, extended cycle life, and competitive energy density
Gelion CEO John Wood commented that the ARENA grant is “critical support for prototyping capabilities associated with the commercial progression of our sulfur battery technologies.” He noted that recent acquisitions and collaborations position Gelion to advance Li-S and Si-S cell development and facilitate global testing and validation.
Gelion’s lightweight sulfur battery solutions target high-growth applications, including electric aviation, electric vehicles, and stationary energy storage for remote power supply. The board believes the ACPC’s launch, combined with these strategic advances, positions Gelion as a leader in next-generation sulfur battery commercialization.
Source: Gelion
