Deadline Date: March 20, 2026
The Local Battery Manufacturing Program is a major $50 million initiative under the Cook Labor Government’s Made in WA Plan designed to strengthen Western Australia’s manufacturing sector and advance the state’s battery energy storage industry through grants and low-interest loans.
The focus areas of the program include supporting increased local manufacturing of batteries and battery components for residential, urban and rural industrial and commercial applications, activities across the battery energy storage supply chain including cell manufacturing or equivalent and battery manufacturing inclusive of battery module, pack and/or system design and assembly, battery recycling as an eligible activity, battery-chemistry agnostic technologies, local supply to the domestic market and supply to international markets through export opportunities, and different levels of production maturity through differentiated grant and loan streams. The objectives of the Production Scale-up Stream include enhancing their capability and capacity to manufacture batteries, improving competitiveness and market share, creating diversification across the manufacturing supply chain, lowering the commercial risk and uncertainty which can be associated with manufacturing activities, and creating jobs.
The program seeks to reduce barriers to market entry and foster a more sustainable and competitive battery manufacturing ecosystem in Western Australia. Through financial support, businesses will be able to scale their manufacturing operations, boost productivity and create new local employment opportunities.
The Production Scale-Up Stream specifically supports established battery manufacturers aiming to expand their operations. Grants of up to $5 million, covering up to half of eligible costs, will assist in strengthening manufacturing capability, increasing market share and reducing commercial risk. This stream forms a major component of the program’s broader funding structure, which allocates $30 million in grants and $20 million in low-interest loans. Applicants may apply across multiple streams up to a combined ceiling of $10 million, with potential for higher amounts in exceptional circumstances demonstrating strong value to the state.
To participate in the stream, applicants must meet a defined set of eligibility requirements. These include holding an ABN, maintaining at least 50% Australian ownership, operating as a for-profit entity or an incorporated not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation operating commercially, and being legally registered to enter a Financial Assistance Agreement. Applicants must already operate within the battery energy storage supply chain, have at least 12 months of operation or demonstrable market acceptance, be registered for GST for a minimum of 12 months, and remain solvent throughout the project duration.
For more information, visit Government of Western Australia.
