Australia’s Redback Technologies To Expand

QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at Redback Technologies HQ

Solar and storage solutions developer Redback Technologies, based at University of Queensland’s Long Pocket campus, plans to boost its workforce significantly over the next 6 months.

Redback’s flagship product is the Redback Smart Hybrid System SH4600, which consists of a 4.6kW inverter, its proprietary cloud based system and a battery enclosure that integrates with up to 9.6kWh of energy storage. The system is compatible with LG Chem LV Lithium-ion and PylonTech Li-ion batteries, details of which are included in SQ’s solar battery comparison table.

The firm has an inverter and battery storage test facility at UQ consisting of 21 systems; providing a test bed for new hardware and software. The number of systems at the facility will grow to 60 to also provide on-site training of installers.

The company has attracted attention at home and abroad –  last month it was selected by New Zealand’s Contact Energy to participate in a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) trial in Wellington.

The pace of Redback’s evolution is such that it finds itself in the position of needing to increase staff – from a current 54 to over one hundred.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visited Redback yesterday and applauded the team’s progress to date.

“Redback are at the forefront of demonstrating that battery storage technology is becoming more affordable and highlighting opportunities for battery storage and intelligent energy management technologies for secure and affordable energy,” stated the Premier.

Redback Technologies is appreciative of the helping hand the company has received in its home state, which has included Advance Queensland Research Fellowship grants and investment from government-owned Energy Queensland

“Redback’s success would not have been possible without the fantastic support of the Queensland Government and their leadership within the renewable energy industry in this State,” said Managing Director of Redback Technologies, Philip Livingston.

As well as the LG Chem and PylonTech batteries, Redback’s  RB4600 solar hybrid inverter/charger  is also compatible with Redflow’s Z-Cell flow battery (with caveats – apparently some additional adapter hardware is required).

While on the topic of Redflow, another Queensland firm, it announced last week Thailand has been selected as the country where Redflow will restart production of its batteries. Redflow said the final North American production batch of ZBM2 batteries (which forms the basis of the Z-Cell) was in transit to Australia at the time.

The company stated it made the decision to shift manufacturing to South East Asia to be closer to its most lucrative markets – Australia, Oceania and southern Africa – and to reduce production costs. Redflow says Thailand offers the necessary manufacturing expertise, competitive logistics and favourable tax treatment for international manufacturers within the country’s free trade zone structure.