Prime Minister Scott Morrison will make his third visit to the Hunter in six months on Thursday to launch the government's resources roadmap.
He will be joined by Industry, Science and Technology Minister Karen Andrews at the site of Energy Renaissance's soon-to-be built $28 million lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility at Tomago.
The Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing Roadmap is a 10-year plan to help businesses capitalise on Australia's access to resources needed to manufacture many new technologies such as electric vehicles, mobile phones and renewable energy systems.
Australia is the largest lithium producer in the world, supplying just over half of global supply.
Recent forecasts suggest demand for lithium for electric vehicles alone will grow from 25,000 tonnes in 2020, to 425,000 tonnes in 2030.
Applications under the government's $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative will also open on Thursday.
It will focus on the critical minerals, resources and processing capacity to help manufacturers scale-up production, commercialise products and tap into global supply chains.
Mr Morrison said the government was focused on continuing to rebuild and grow the economy with manufacturing playing a key role in the COVID-19 recovery.
"Yesterday's national accounts showed the comeback of the Australian economy is well underway and manufacturing businesses and jobs will be central to our national economic recovery plan as we build back from the COVID-19 recession," he said
"This investment and this roadmap will support jobs across Australia, particularly in our resource rich regions like the Hunter, Western Australia and Central Queensland."
Minister Andrews said the new roadmap would help build sophisticated manufacturing capability in Australia's resources sector.
"This funding will back businesses to pursue those opportunities and turn innovative ideas into high-value products so we can build on Australia's competitive advantage and secure greater investment and market share," she said.
"This roadmap complements the government's initiatives to reduce electricity prices, boost liquid fuels security and invest in low emissions energy technology through Australia's Technology Investment Roadmap."
Energy Renaissance's factory will be Australia's first advanced manufacturing facility producing Australian-designed battery storage systems.
The 4,500 square metre facility will have an initial battery production capacity of 4 megawatt hours a month expanding to 15 megawatt hours per month in 2022.
The company's long-term plans are to develop a 1 gigawatt hour battery manufacturing facility growing to 5.3 gigawatt hours over time.
Development approvals have been completed and construction of the facility is due to commence in the next six to eight weeks.
Operations are expected to commence in May 2021 with the production of batteries to start by July 2021.
In an independent economic impact analysis undertaken by Energy Renaissance, found the project will create up to 720 direct and indirect jobs, contribute $800 million to Australia's gross domestic product and $60 million in recurring state taxes for NSW.
There's also expected to be extensive flow-on effects into the Hunter region.
Energy Renaissance has received grants from the Federal Government's Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) and Impact Investing Australia. It has also done extensive research collaboration with CSIRO.
