Hon. Sophia Moermond questions the Minister for Energy regarding the potential of hemp batteries as a safer and more sustainable alternative to lithium batteries, particularly given the lithium market slump. The parliamentary secretary acknowledges awareness of alternative energy solutions and research into carbon nanosheets but makes no specific commitment to supporting the WA hemp industry for battery manufacturing.

AnsweredQoN 1576Legislative Council
Asked
27 November 2024
Portfolio
Energy

QuestionView source ↗

HEMP BATTERIES
1576. Hon SOPHIA MOERMOND to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the
development of battery storage.
(1) In light of
the increasing number of lithium battery ignitions involving thermal runaway
and our inability to extinguish them, is the minister aware of the advantages
of hemp batteries?
(2) Is the
minister aware of carbon nanosheets manufactured from hemp, said to outperform
lithium batteries?
(3) Will the
government consider supporting the WA hemp industry to manufacture batteries,
considering the slump in the lithium market?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I commend the honourable member on the quality of
her parliamentary questions. On behalf of the Minister for Energy, I provide the
following answer.
(1) The minister
is aware that several energy storage solutions are being developed to support
decarbonisation efforts.
(2) The state government is aware that the Australian
Research Council has provided various grants for research into
manufacturing carbon nanosheets from general agricultural waste.
(3) The state government welcomes innovation and
technologies that offer or help provide safe, clean, reliable and
competitively priced energy.

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