Grant
$7.9m
Next generation battery manufacturing gets funding boost
ARENA awards Li-S Energy $7.86 million to advance lithium-sulfur battery production studies toward a proposed large-scale cell facility.
Startup · $11.5m raised
Li-S Energy
lithium-sulfur battery developer
Geelong, VIC
Funding history
-
Grant : $1,900,000
-
Grant : $7,860,000
-
Grant : $1,700,000
Investors
Every investor coverage indicates participated in a round Li-S Energy raised.
| Investor | Rounds | Invested |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Renewable Energy Agency | Grant · Grant · Grant | $9,560,000 |
| Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) | Grant · Grant | - |
| Industry Growth Program | Grant | $1,760,000 |
What Li-S Energy bought
Companies Li-S Energy acquired or merged with, per published coverage. Buying a company is not investing in one: nothing here counts in the deals column.
People
| Name | Role | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Spincer | Chair | @AuManufacturing |
| Dr Lee Finniear | CEO and Managing Director (former) | ARENA, RenewEconomy (19 Feb 2026), RenewEconomy (19 Feb 2026), RenewEconomy (18 Nov 2025), RenewEconomy (18 Nov 2025), @AuManufacturing (11 Jul 2025), @AuManufacturing (28 Oct 2024), RenewEconomy (12 Aug 2024), @AuManufacturing (11 Aug 2024) |
| Dr Steve Rowlands | CTO | @AuManufacturing (11 Jul 2025), @AuManufacturing (28 Oct 2024) |
| Marc Fenton | Non-executive Director (former) | @AuManufacturing |
| Rick Francis | Non-executive Director | @AuManufacturing |
Coverage
Stories naming Li-S Energy. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
5 deals
Arena backs Australian factory featuring “breakthrough” in battery storage powders
VSPC, Livium's battery subsidiary, wins a $30 million ARENA grant toward a cathode powder demonstration plant; the piece also recalls funding for AnteoTech, Li-S, Novonix and Energy Storage Industries, plus Redflow's administration.
Also RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy
Funding announcement
Li-S Energy reports breakthrough in drone battery technology
An Australian battery maker shared drone flight test results for its lithium-sulfur cells, alongside mentions of two earlier grants, a new Geelong plant and its cash position.
Key hire
Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed
Roundup of manufacturing briefs: FBR's US venture option with CRH lapses, Li-S Energy appoints Rick Francis to its board as a director departs, plus sponsorship, TAFE funding, rate commentary and a hydrogen collaboration.
Funding announcement
Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed
Manufacturing roundup: Noizend's grants and UTS work, PPK's planned Li-S share distribution, a Bathurst recycling trial, Aurecon's CETRI role, an ELA regulatory hire, BioPak's OzHarvest support, and ANSTO's reactor restart.
5 deals
Australian battery maker opens first facility in Victoria, lands federal funds for expansion
Battery maker Li-S Energy has opened its Geelong pouch cell facility and won a $1.7 million federal Industry Growth Program grant for a lithium foil line; four other firms also received IGP grants.
Grant
Industry Growth Program funds flow to commercialise technology
First grants from the federal Industry Growth Program include battery developer Li-S Energy, announced as Minister Ed Husic opened its Geelong facility. The $392 million program feeds the National Reconstruction Fund.
Also RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy
Funding announcement
Three businesses from a single entrepreneurial company get federal grants
Three unnamed subsidiaries of listed technology company PPK Group have received federal grants through Deakin University's renewable energy commercialisation hub, with market valuations noted for PPK and its Li-S subsidiary.