What’s Being Talked About in the Battery Industry Right Now
Leila Playmore from DPA recently attended a small industry gathering at the PowerPlus Energy facility, bringing together senior leaders from across the battery and advanced materials sector.
The group included manufacturers, investors, project developers, recyclers, and policy stakeholders, offering a broad view of where the industry is heading and what challenges are emerging on the ground.
One of the central discussions focused on women in the battery value chain, with perspectives from across government, manufacturing, installation, and commercial delivery.
But beyond the panel, the value of the session came from the conversations around what is actually happening in the market today.
Women in the Battery Value Chain
A key part of the session was the panel, bringing together perspectives from across government, manufacturing, installation, and project delivery.
Participants included:
- Annastacia Palaszczuk (Chair, AMBC)
- Esther Diffey (SLR Consulting)
- Kaushalya George (Global Victoria)
- Leila Playmore (DPA Energy)
- Liz Nielsen (A1 Solar and Electrical)
- Michelle Gradwell (PowerPlus Energy)
The discussion started with a simple question: Why is the battery industry such an exciting sector to build a career in right now?
From there, the conversation moved into:
- opportunities for women in the sector
- what a strong workplace in batteries looks like
- where the biggest opportunities are over the next five years
But the most valuable part was where the discussion became practical.
Liz and Leila both highlighted a growing gap between demand and delivery.
While rebates are accelerating uptake, there are not enough accredited installers or accessible training pathways to support the increase in work, placing pressure on already busy designers and installation teams.
Another challenge raised was the lack of testing facilities in Australia, which continues to slow the path to CEC approval for local manufacturers.
A Growing Industry – With Real Constraints
The battery sector is attracting strong interest.
There is clear momentum, driven by:
- increasing demand for storage
- policy support and rebates
- growing awareness of energy independence and system performance
At the same time, this growth is putting pressure on parts of the industry that are not scaling at the same pace.
Installer Capacity Is Becoming a Bottleneck
Beyond the panel, this issue came up repeatedly across conversations.
As Leila highlighted during discussions, while incentives such as battery rebates are accelerating uptake, there is limited consideration for how this translates into real-world delivery.
Installers and designers are already operating at capacity.
Increasing demand without a corresponding increase in:
- accredited installers
- training pathways
- workforce development
creates pressure across the entire system.
This directly impacts:
- project timelines
- system quality
- customer experience
Training and Accreditation Challenges
The discussion also highlighted the need for more accessible and scalable training.
Current pathways to accreditation remain a constraint, particularly as the industry expands into more complex battery and hybrid system installations.
Without stronger investment in training and workforce development, growth will continue to outpace capability.
Barriers for Local Manufacturing
Another important point raised was the lack of local testing facilities in Australia.
For Australian manufacturers, this makes the pathway to CEC approval longer and more complex.
This creates additional friction in bringing new products to market and supporting local innovation.
What a Good Battery Workplace Looks Like
The panel discussion also explored what a strong and sustainable workplace in the battery sector looks like.
This included:
- clearer career pathways
- better support structures on-site
- more inclusive environments
- practical opportunities for progression
There was a clear view that attracting and retaining talent, particularly women, will play an important role in the future development of the industry.
A More Grounded Industry Conversation
What stood out from the session was the quality of the conversation.
It wasn’t focused on product features or marketing.
It was focused on:
- delivery
- capability
- real-world constraints
- long-term industry development
Leila contributed from a project and commercial delivery perspective, reflecting what is being seen across active projects.
Why This Matters
The battery industry is entering a new phase.
Growth is no longer just about demand.
It is about:
- how systems are delivered
- how teams are trained
- how capacity is built
- how quality is maintained
The businesses that understand this, and adapt to it, will be better positioned as the market continues to expand.