Australian battery innovator Relectrify has received a major vote of confidence, securing $25 million from Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to accelerate the rollout of its ground-breaking AC1 battery energy storage system -a genuinely world-first, Australian-designed technology that removes the need for a traditional inverter.
This funding marks a milestone not just for Relectrify, but for Australia’s ambition to become a global leader in clean-energy manufacturing and advanced battery systems.
A bold step for home-grown innovation
Announcing the investment, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen described Relectrify as “a standout example of Australian innovation solving real-world problems for the clean-energy transition.” (Source: Department of Climate, Energy, the Environment and Water)
ARENA CEO Darren Miller highlighted the opportunity to showcase a new type of storage system unlikely to have been developed anywhere else: “Relectrify’s inverterless technology is a genuinely unique Australian breakthrough. This project will help prove how the AC1 can reshape the economics of energy storage across commercial and industrial markets.”
Born from years of engineering work in Melbourne, the AC1 system replaces the traditional inverter with a clever cell-level control system that produces AC power directly. This means greater efficiency, more usable lifetime energy, and lower overall costs – all delivered with components designed and developed onshore.
What makes the AC1 system world-first?
No inverter needed – energy is converted at the cell level.
Up to 20% more usable lifetime energy, thanks to smarter cell management.
Smoother grid performance and improved safety.
Perfectly suited to the “missing middle” of commercial and industrial users who need flexible, scalable storage.
As Relectrify CEO Jeff Renaud explained in earlier public comments, the company’s mission has always been to “reimagine what batteries can do, and build technology that unlocks their full potential for the world.”
A major push toward commercial deployment
The ARENA funding will support deployment of up to 100 MWh of AC1 systems across a range of commercial, industrial, and small front-of-meter environments. These real-world sites will help Relectrify build the evidence base needed for wider adoption, while reinforcing Australia’s capability in advanced clean-energy technology.
The project will also include extensive knowledge-sharing to accelerate grid-integration, performance modelling and broader industry learning.
Why this matters
This milestone has been welcomed across the energy storage industry. For the clean-energy sector, it signals strong momentum for domestic battery manufacturing. For Australian businesses, it opens the door to more efficient and cost-effective storage options. And for Relectrify, it marks a leap forward in taking home-grown technology to global markets.
In the words of Minister Bowen: “Australia can be a country that doesn’t just deploy clean-energy technology, but designs it, builds it and exports it to the world.”
Relectrify’s breakthrough is a powerful example of that ambition starting to become reality.
Australia-wide Media Coverage
This announcement has been widely featured across major energy, technology and business publications, reflecting its significance for the national clean-energy landscape:
