As Australia moves toward more advanced and self‑reliant defence capabilities, the energy systems that power Defence platforms and systems have never been more important.
With technology evolving rapidly and new threats emerging, Defence platforms and systems relying solely on traditional lead‑acid batteries are no longer enough. For example, the main storage battery is the heart of a conventional submarine's underwater operations - central to its stealth, endurance and overall effectiveness.
Anthony Szabo, Assistant Chief Platforms for the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), said that over the past decade, DSTG has led a comprehensive program to explore, test and develop safer, higher‑performance and sovereign battery technologies for Australia's Defence platforms and systems.
"This work ranges from fundamental scientific investigation to full‑scale testing of next‑generation battery cells and modules. It also includes establishing unique national facilities and partnering with Australian industry to accelerate local manufacturing capability," he said.
National Battery Day, held every year on February 18, is an opportunity to recognise the work DSTG has done over nearly 10 years, examining alternative battery technologies that could replace or supplement traditional lead‑acid systems in conventional submarines.
While new technologies offer promising performance advantages, they also introduce challenges - particularly around safety, integration and ensuring benefits are sustained throughout the platform's life. This is also the case for other Defence platforms and weapons systems.
'Safety is a critical factor in selecting any new battery technology.'
To address these challenges, DSTG developed specialised skills, tools and facilities. These include a dedicated battery performance and degradation laboratory to run accelerated and real‑time charge-discharge experiments, enabling detailed understanding of how different chemistries behave over time.
DSTG also developed mathematical models to predict submarine‑level performance and undertook destructive analyses to study chemical and structural degradation inside cells. Together, these capabilities provide deep technical insights that are valuable across multiple Defence domains.
"Safety is a critical factor in selecting any new battery technology," Dr Szabo said.
"To understand the risks, DSTG created a dedicated battery safety research facility to test how cells behave when pushed beyond their limits - electrically, mechanically or environmentally.
"Defence scientists conducted experiments in a purpose‑built chamber equipped with high‑speed cameras, infrared imaging and sensors that measure heat and gas release in real time."
The studies revealed how different technologies respond to failure, how likely they are to experience catastrophic events, and which mitigation strategies are needed. The facility continues to support both underwater and land‑based Defence applications, ensuring safety remains at the forefront of capability development.
A key objective of the work undertaken at DSTG was to identify options that improve platform performance, enhance safety and strengthen Australia's sovereign capability to maintain, upgrade and eventually manufacture its own batteries. For example, introducing new battery technologies can affect the entire conventional submarine design, so DSTG examined two major integration pathways: retrofitting new batteries into submarines that currently use lead‑acid systems and influencing the design of future Defence platforms to take advantage of alternative battery technologies.
For the retrofit path, DSTG collaborated with Australian industry on nickel‑zinc (NiZn) technology, developing and testing full‑scale submarine modules. In parallel, DSTG assessed a mature lithium‑ion (Li‑ion) system as a lower‑risk integration option for the Attack-class submarine.
'These efforts have laid the foundation for safe, high‑energy, Australian‑made battery technologies capable of powering the next generation of Defence platforms.'
Producing large‑format Li‑ion cells for Defence platforms and systems requires advanced skills, specialised processes and significant investment. DSTG worked closely with three potential Australian manufacturers, evaluating their large‑format cells for performance and safety, and developed new Australian Li‑ion chemistries incorporating high‑voltage cathodes and safer electrolytes to improve energy density and safety.
This work is now progressing into industrial production. One Australian manufacturer is scaling up DSTG's chemistry to produce safe, high‑energy‑density sovereign Li‑ion cells suitable for underwater, air and land‑based Defence applications.
"Together, these efforts have laid the foundation for safe, high‑energy, Australian‑made battery technologies capable of powering the next generation of Defence platforms while strengthening the nation's sovereign industrial base. DSTG's long‑term investment has created a uniquely Australian capability that positions Defence for the future," Dr Szabo said.
Transitioning from traditional lead‑acid batteries to next‑generation technologies is complex and requires deep scientific understanding and careful risk management. Through rigorous performance, ageing and safety studies, DSTG has reduced key uncertainties and identified credible pathways for retrofits and new platform designs that maximise capability gains.
Ultimately, this program demonstrates how sustained science and technology investment can deliver practical capability options, improve safety, bolster sovereignty and prepare Australia for the demands of future ADF operations.
