Allegro Energy unveils Australia's first flow battery

Allegro Energy has unveiled Australia's first locally manufactured microemulsion flow battery (MeFB) as part of its push towards advancing long-duration energy storage (LDES) technology.

An open day event was held at the company's headquarters in Thornton, New South Wales, where the new technology was presented. This event follows Allegro's recent announcement regarding the granting of a US patent for its non-flammable and cost-effective grid-scale battery technology.

The unveiling featured speeches from key figures including Matt Kean, Chair of the Climate Change Authority, James Magill, Executive General Manager of Origin Zero, and Dr Thomas Nann, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Allegro Energy.

Dr Thomas Nann expressed his appreciation to those involved in bringing the project to fruition. "We are grateful to all of our partners and supporters who have helped make this day possible. This battery not only represents breakthrough chemistry that can support the clean energy transition in Australia and globally. It also shows how Australia can use advanced manufacturing as a way to stand out from the crowd and do what others can't do in smart ways," he said.

The microemulsion electrolyte technology developed by Allegro is seen as a pivotal advancement in LDES, offering improvements in scalability, sustainability, and performance over current technologies. The first major installation of this technology is planned for Origin Energy's Eraring Power Station.

James Magill, Executive General Manager of Origin Zero, commented on the strategic importance of the technology. "We firmly believe that battery storage – including long duration storage – will play a pivotal role in Australia's energy transition, which is why we are building a significant battery portfolio. Our partnership with Allegro is part of our broader commitment to lead the energy transition through cleaner energy and customer solutions, and we look forward to piloting this innovative battery technology at Eraring Power Station, before exploring a further rollout to customer sites," he stated.

The introduction of this technology underscores the importance of local innovation in supporting Australia's energy sector as it moves towards a more sustainable power grid. Attendees of the event were provided a first look at the new battery system and engaged with engineers responsible for its development. The event included facility tours and opportunities for networking over light refreshments.