About
The WA Government's $50 million Local Battery Manufacturing Program (the Program) aims to strengthen Western Australia’s (WA) manufacturing sector supporting the local manufacturing of residential batteries and battery components, as well as industrial and commercial applications.
This Stream’s objectives are to:
- fund activities that facilitate enhanced capacity, capability and competitiveness in battery energy storage supply chain participation;
- reduce entry barriers to established battery energy storage markets or supply chains; and/or
- lower the commercial risk and uncertainty often associated with pre-production manufacturing activities
The Production-Ready Stream provides eligible applicants up to $100,000 in matched funding to businesses for projects in 3 categories of pre-production activities. These are precursors to the manufacturing of batteries and battery components at scale and include
- selected, late-stage feasibility studies;
- prototype development; and
- testing and accreditation.
Applications for the Production-Ready Funding Stream close 5pm (AWST) on 30 January 2026.
Interested applicants should read the guidelines and FAQs available below.
Eligibility
Show moreTo be considered eligible for funding under the Stream, applicants must meet all the following criteria at the time of application submission:
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Be a for-profit entity, or an incorporated not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation operating as a commercial enterprise.
- Be a legally registered entity that can enter into a Financial Assistance Agreement (FAA) with the Department, and can include a corporate trustee applying on behalf of a trust.
- Be operating within the battery energy storage supply chain, within the scope identified in 1.3 of the Guidelines.
- Have been operating for at least 12 months at the time of the application submission or have evidence of market acceptance of the Project (e.g. offtake agreements).
- Be registered for GST for a minimum of 12 months and intend to remain registered for further 12 months at a minimum.
- Be a solvent business and remain so throughout the Project duration.
- Provide evidence of a physical business presence including FTEs in Western Australia. Where a business operates in multiple locations, headquarters may be located outside of Western Australia.
- Businesses seeking funding for activities in support of full or partial relocation of operations to Western Australia will only be considered where:
- sufficient intent to establish local presence is demonstrated (e.g. evidence of engagement with a commercial real estate agent to acquire or lease business premises in Western Australia).
- the relocation introduces new forms of activity into the Western Australian economy i.e. when it does not directly complete with existing Western Australian manufacturers.
- Be a business that intends to continue operating in Western Australia for at least another 3 years and to progress any completed grant-funded and flow-on activities and outcomes in Western Australia.
- Applications involving a consortia or partnerships are welcome, including involving government entities and not-for-profit organisations, but will require a clear lead who meets all the above eligibility criteria. In this case, operations and governance structures will need to be included as part of the application.
Ineligibility
Show moreThe following are examples which would render a business ineligible to apply for funding under the Stream. This list of examples is not exhaustive and should be used for guidance purposes only. For specific circumstances not covered by these guidelines, applicants are encouraged to contact the Department for further guidance.
You are not eligible to apply if you are:
- An individual;
- A trust;
- A charity;
- A not-for-profit organisation as sole or lead applicant (excluding an Aboriginal business);
- A government body of any kind as sole or lead applicant (including local councils, statutory authorities, state and Commonwealth government departments and government trading enterprises);
- A business unable to demonstrate operation within the battery energy storage supply chain, within the scope identified in 1.3 of the Guidelines; and/or
- A business for sale or planning to sell your business during the period in which the proposed Project would be delivered.
Assessment Criteria
Show more- Alignment with program purpose and stream objectives - 30%
- Strength of proposal - 30%
- Value for money - 20%
- Relevant experience and expertise - 20%
Application process
Show moreEligible applicants must submit their application online via the SmartyGrants portal. Applicants must create an online account via the portal and complete all parts of the application form, including attaching required documentation.
Applicants can submit a maximum of three applications in this Stream per round. Submissions via email, registered post or any other format will not be accepted. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Before applying, applicants should thoroughly review the relevant guidelines and preview the application form. It is recommended that applicants contact the Department for further advice if they remain unsure about elements of their eligibility or any other requirements.
Assessment process
Show moreAll applications will be competitively assessed by an internal evaluation panel with at least three members from the Department. Each member of the evaluation panel will be required to independently complete an assessment form for every submission.
Once all panel members have completed an individual assessment for all submitted applications, a consensus meeting will be held to agree upon scoring and make a determination to recommend or not recommend applications for funding. The final decision on funding rests with the Minister for State Development; Trade and Investment; Economic Diversification or their delegate.
The panel may seek clarification or request additional information from an applicant if required.
Notification of outcome
Show moreAll applicants will be sent a letter notifying them of the outcome of their submission. Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply for future rounds, should future rounds be made available.
A Financial Assistance Agreement (FAA) will be subsequently sent to successful applicants for signature and return (via the SmartyGrants portal) within 30 days of receipt.
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