CATL and UNSW to invigorate Australia’s clean energy transition

The new partnership will develop a Centre for Integrated Renewable Energy Training and Innovation (CIRETI) in Western Sydney.

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and UNSW Sydney (UNSW) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form a strategic partnership and advance the skills and capabilities needed for Australia’s clean energy transition. This includes working together to develop a Centre for Integrated Renewable Energy Training and Innovation (CIRETI) in Western Sydney, NSW.

The proposed centre will build local capability, create a more adaptive education and training system and ensure students are job‑ready for the fast‑evolving needs of the clean energy industry.

It will bring together UNSW’s world‑leading research and educational expertise with CATL’s global leadership in advanced battery technology and energy systems in an Australia-first-of-kind collaboration. The initial focus will be skills and talent development to support uplift in battery energy storage technologies, as well as in technology demonstration and collaborative research.

NSW is leading Australia’s renewable energy and storage infrastructure rollout and is at the forefront of electricity workforce demand. Battery energy storage technologies are central to Australia’s energy system transformation, and their rapid deployment requires urgent and industry-responsive skills development across the tertiary sector.

UNSW is Australia’s #1 ranked university overall and #1 in Engineering – a powerhouse of research and education with a legacy of more than 50 years in renewable energy innovation. UNSW pioneered modern solar PV technology that has accelerated the availability of cheap, clean electricity across the world. 

Now, together with CATL, UNSW is taking a trailblazing step forward, partnering with a global industry leader to build the skilled workforce and sovereign manufacturing capability urgently needed to deliver on Australia’s net‑zero transition.      

Zane Zhou, General Manager of CATL Australia and New Zealand:, said: “CATL is delighted to be working with UNSW to advance Australia’s standing in the global energy transition. The next generation of Australia’s clean energy workforce will be centred around the integration of batteries and how they deliver reliable energy and system security to our grids. UNSW is our ideal partner and they are a global leader in energy research and engineering. Together, we will bring world‑class expertise to build the skills and capability needed across Australia and the Asia‑Pacific region.”

Professor Stephen Rodda, UNSW Pro Vice-Chancellor, Industry and Innovation, said: “The net-zero transition is one of the defining challenges of our time, and meeting it will take more than new technology alone. It requires the skills, research and partnerships to turn innovation into practical capability at scale. Through this partnership, UNSW and CATL will bring together education, collaborative research and industry expertise to advance energy storage and grid integration, create opportunities for our students and graduates, and help translate UNSW innovations into real-world impact. Together, we can build the workforce and capability Australia needs for a reliable, clean energy future.”

Details on how industry, government, and educators can collaborate with CATL and UNSW are available at www.cireti.org.