More than $1.3 million awarded for sustainable energy research

Australia is moving towards a renewable energy future, supported by battery technology and this shift will create opportunities in almost every industry. As battery technologies continue to evolve, demand will increase for skilled workers for these emerging roles.

To help better understand and address the education and industry-related training required, the TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries opened a second round of Applied Research Grants.

The competitive grants attracted 19 proposals from across Australia.

In total, seven applicants were awarded more than $1.3 million collectively, with the applied research projects to be completed within 12 months.

Successful round two applicants

Australian National University

Australian National University, in partnership with Amber and TAFE Queensland, will receive $177,127 to develop micro-credentials that build virtual power plant and battery literacy across consumers, trades and industry, supporting consumer empowerment and workforce capability.

GCD Advisory Pty Ltd

GCD Advisory Pty Ltd, in partnership with AusNET, Hannergrid Consulting, Penske, Pixii Australia, TAFE Queensland Commercial Business, will receive $197,000 to deliver a national workforce and skills-gap analysis for battery decommissioning and develop an industry-led training roadmap addressing safety across the battery lifecycle.

PowerWells

PowerWells, in partnership with Alinga Energy Consulting, Yarrabah Business Accelerator, PCYC Yarrabah and TAFE Queensland Centre for First Nations Training, will receive $200,000 to deliver solar energy access, foundational solar and battery vocational training, and workforce pathways to First Nations residents in Yarrabah.

Queensland University of Technology

Queensland University of Technology, in partnership with CHARG and Power Back, will receive $195,843 to develop a practical, industry-validated training asset and a supporting skills framework for the installation, commissioning and maintenance of redox flow batteries in Australia, uplifting vocational education and training resources to support adoption of this technology at scale.

TAFE Queensland Commercial

TAFE Queensland Commercial, in partnership with BHP, Caterpillar, Fortescue, Komatsu, Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance, Powering Skills Organisation and South Metro TAFE, will receive $185,500 to validate battery-electric workforce pathways in the mining sector, supporting national consistency across qualifications and skills recognition.

TAFE Queensland Learning Technology Innovation

TAFE Queensland Learning Technology Innovation, in partnership with eLumina, Melbourne Polytechnic, North Metropolitan TAFE and Real Serious Games, will receive $199,144 to develop a framework for adopting immersive technologies in complex and safety-critical battery training, enabling safe learning experiences, strengthening trainer capability and improving delivery across the vocational education and training sector.

University of Southern Queensland

University of Southern Queensland, in partnership with TAFE Queensland, will receive $200,000 to develop an AI-enabled tool that improves credit recognition between vocational education and training and higher education, providing clearer and more efficient student pathways, supporting trade-qualified professionals to transition more efficiently into higher education programs.

The $20 million TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries, led by TAFE Queensland, is a joint initiative between the Australian and Queensland Governments to 2028.