Queensland’s Graphene Manufacturing Group will invest $900,000 for the early works of a planned Gen 2.0 plant at its facility in Richlands.

The total cost of bringing the 10-tonne-per-annum graphene production plant online is expected to reach $2.3 million.

The Gen 2.0 Plant is based on the plasma technology GMG has been using to make graphene for more than seven years. 

However, the company said the new plant would use newly iterated technology expected to result in up to 20 times more production per unit.

“We are very excited to move ahead with our next-generation technology for graphene production – it is a significant milestone for the company,” GMG managing director and chief executive officer Craig Nicol said.

“We expect to see better quality graphene at even lower costs and much higher production rates.”

The early works approved by the GMG board include the procurement of long-lead items and commencement of engineering and design works.

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The Gen 2.0 plant is expected to be online by the end of June 2026, with production limited to 1 tonne per annum until further work is completed on upgrading packaging systems.

GMG develops, makes and sells energy-saving and energy-storage solutions enabled by graphene.

It uses its proprietary production process to decompose natural gas (i.e. methane) into its natural elements, carbon (as graphene), hydrogen and some residual hydrocarbon gases.