Official commissioning of revolutionary new zinc bromine battery

30/1/96

A revolutionary new battery which could save users millions of dollars in power generation costs was officially commissioned by Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan today.

The zinc bromine battery has been developed in Western Australia and has applications in power stations. The first commercial installation of the battery will be made in Victoria.

Mr Cowan commissioned the Mark V Generation zinc bromine battery at ZBB Australia Ltd's laboratory at Murdoch University.

The company has grown out of a research program initially funded by CSIRO and undertaken at Murdoch University in 1979.

ZBB's main activity has been to research, develop and commercialise the zinc bromine battery. Project funding of several million dollars was provided through research and development syndication.

Although the battery does not yet have a track record in the market place, the company is already receiving Australian and overseas requests for the battery based on test results.

"This is an indication of industry confidence in the outcome of ZBB's research and development, as production facilities are not yet in place and the first major installation of the battery has not yet occurred, " Mr Cowan said.

ZBB has been contracted to produce a 400 kilowatt-hour battery for United Energy in Victoria. This project is worth some $2 million, and funding is being provided through the Energy Research and Development Corporation (ERDC).

The battery is intended as a cost-effective replacement for current power station technology.  The company intends to manufacture the battery in Australia.

Mr Cowan said the commissioning of the new battery came at a time of heightened awareness of the issues associated with science and technology.

"Science has an impact at many levels within our community - not only upon the researchers and the innovators, but also the users of technology and the users of products created by technology," he said.

"In developing the State Government's Science and Technology Policy Discussion Paper, which I released for public comment in October, the Government sought comment from the community as a whole on the State's future relationship with this important economic generator."

The discussion paper was circulated for comment and feedback. Public workshops run by the Department of Commerce and Trade were held in metropolitan and regional areas. More than 180 people attended the workshops - 98 in Perth and 87 in the regions - and 124 written submissions have been received.

Mr Cowan congratulated ZBB and its fellow proponents on their success in achieving Commonwealth Government support for their Co-operative Research Centre in Renewable Energy Technologies.

"The $10 million of research effort that this CRC will undertake will be a much welcomed boost for this industry and the State," he said.

ZBB was formed in 1981 to take advantage of the opportunity identified by Murdoch University's Professor A J Parker for zinc bromine batteries. The company has spent 15 years and many millions of dollars to produce the Mark V generation of its zinc bromine battery.

Media contact: Peter Jackson 222 9595