Konichiwa Japan- December 2018

 

CSIRO Global, CSIRO Manufacturing and Austrade (Australian Trade and Investment Commission) hosted the Australia-Japan Battery Workshop, held at OSTEC, Osaka, Japan on December 5^th. Osaka was chosen for the workshop as 50 % of the world’s batteries being made in Japan, 80 % in the Osaka area. Many Japanese companies such as Panasonic Hitachi-Maxell and GS Yuasa are based in this region. The workshop showcased Australia’s activities across the battery value chain to an audience of 50 Japanese attendees from levels of Japanese Government, research institutions and industry. The Australian attendees included representatives from CSIRO Manufacturing, CSIRO Minerals Resources and CSIRO Energy, Queensland University of Technology, UNSW, Deakin University, University of Adelaide and Curtin University as well Strike Resources, Talga Resources, Envirostream Australia, Anteo Energy, Cap-XX, Lithium Australia NL / VSPC Pty Ltd. and PMB Defence.

Mr. David Lawson, Senior Trade Commissioner at Austrade, Osaka, Japan, opened the workshop and invited the attendees to look deeper at Australia than just our natural resources, and explore our innovation and research capabilities as Japanese companies seek to enhance the capabilities and performance of their products.

On December 6^th, the Australian delegates visited the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), specifically National Laboratory for Advanced Batteries (NLAB) in Osaka, to see the impressive facilities for battery testing and abuse facilities. NLAB houses the largest battery abuse facility in the world. The Large Chamber [3m (L)x 18m (w)x 16m (H)] where batteries can be abused to determine their safety characteristics has controlled temperature, wind velocity and a fully ventilated smoke facility.

Finally, the delegates visited a battery company where the delegates were able to share more about their products or research activities.