Founded in 2016, Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) has developed a proprietary process to manufacture graphene from natural gas, not mined graphite – a cleaner, more scalable approach that has become the backbone of its product portfolio.

The company now develops, manufactures and markets a range of energy-saving and energy-storage products from its facility in Richlands, including advanced battery cells, a graphene-based thermal coating system, and a next-generation engine lubricant.

“We’ve come a long way from producing small batches of graphene in the lab,” says Craig Nicol, GMG’s CEO and Founder. “Today, we have a fully articulated portfolio of products that help reduce both energy use and emissions, making it easier for industries to take meaningful steps toward a lower-carbon future.”

By tapping into Brisbane’s integrated innovation ecosystem – where world-class research, government backing and industry partnerships converge – GMG is accelerating its commercial ambitions. With access to leading universities, global resources companies and a supportive local government, the company is well-positioned to scale its impact and compete in the global clean-tech race.

A battery built for tomorrow

As the world accelerates towards electrified transport and renewable energy, the race to develop safer, faster and more sustainable batteries is well underway – and GMG is charging ahead.

At the heart of the company’s product pipeline is its graphene aluminium-ion battery, which promises to outperform conventional lithium-ion cells on several fronts. In laboratory testing, the battery has demonstrated the potential to charge up to 70 times faster and last up to three times longer, while using more abundant, environmentally friendly materials.

It’s a next-generation solution aimed at high-performance applications across fleet transport, grid infrastructure and advanced mobility.

Developed in collaboration with The University of Queensland, which topped the AFR Best Universities Ranking 2024, the battery exemplifies the deep integration between Brisbane’s research institutions and commercial ventures.

“From a research point of view, we’re really blessed with the University of Queensland,” Nicol says. “They helped us develop the battery, and we then licensed it from them. They’ve helped us test, validate and push what this technology can do.”

Brisbane is also home to a fast-growing battery ecosystem. Nicol is Chair of the Advanced Materials and Battery Council – a national body established to accelerate the development of Australia’s battery industry.

“Brisbane is the leading area for battery development and manufacturing in Australia by far,” he says. “We’ve got great local pack manufacturers, a strong pipeline of minerals and processing capacity, and some of the best engineers and scientists in the country working on this space.”

GMG has also signed a joint development agreement with Rio Tinto – whose Brisbane office is a key hub for the global mining giant – to fast-track applications of the battery in heavy mobile equipment and grid energy storage. The partnership includes a $6 million investment and preferential access rights.

While the aluminium-ion battery moves closer to commercial production, GMG is already supporting the market with SUPA G – a graphene slurry additive that boosts the performance of existing lithium-ion batteries, and is currently being tested by major manufacturers.

Cooling costs, cutting emissions

Air conditioning may not be the flashiest frontier in clean-tech, but it’s one of the most important – especially as global demand for data centres, industrial cooling and climate control continues to rise.

GMG’s answer? THERMAL-XR, a graphene-enhanced Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) coating that improves heat transfer, reduces corrosion and extends the life of energy-intensive equipment.

It works by coating heat exchange surfaces in air conditioning and refrigeration systems, rebuilding lost thermal conductivity in corroded units and improving performance in new ones. The result: less power consumption, lower emissions, and longer-lasting assets across commercial, residential and industrial settings.

“When you transfer heat faster, you generally save energy, you save costs and you save emissions,” Nicol says. “You cool down a house faster, a business faster, a building faster – and that means a real impact on power bills.”

That impact has already been demonstrated through a successful public-private collaboration with Brisbane City Council, which trialled THERMAL-XR on city buses, where it cooled cabins 25 percent faster, and in a council library, where it cut air conditioning costs by 50 percent – results verified by a third-party review.

The trials align with the city’s broader sustainability leadership – in 2023, Brisbane became the first city in Australia to receive Gold Certification under the United Nations Habitat Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Cities Global Initiative – and show how local government is helping fast-track clean-tech adoption through active industry partnerships.

Last year, THERMAL-XR won the Product Excellence HVAC Award at ARBS in Sydney; Product of the Year at the AIRAH Awards in Melbourne; and two accolades – for Most Disruptive Technology and Best Chance for Market Success – at Data Center World in Washington, DC.

Running smooth

GMG’s third major product is G Lubricant – a graphene-enhanced concentrate designed to reduce friction, improve engine performance and cut fuel consumption in internal combustion engines. It’s a practical, drop-in solution for diesel and petrol-powered vehicles intended to help users lower both emissions and operating costs.

Tested in partnership with The University of Queensland, the lubricant has shown fuel savings of up to 8.4 percent in large diesel engines – results verified through four years of environmentally controlled testing and field trials.

The product works by forming a protective graphene layer between metal surfaces, reducing friction and wear while improving thermal transfer. It can be added to any existing mineral or synthetic oil without engine modification.

Like GMG’s battery and thermal coating, G Lubricant demonstrates how graphene’s properties can be applied in real-world settings to deliver meaningful performance and sustainability gains. It also reflects the strength of GMG’s research partnerships in Brisbane.

“It’s just another example of how our relationship with UQ – especially with the Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology – has been world class,” Nicol says.

Charging into the future

As GMG prepares for global expansion, it continues to benefit from Brisbane’s export-focused mindset – and a support system that spans advanced manufacturing capabilities, globally connected research institutions and proactive government programs.

GMG’s next big leap is a listing on a major United States stock exchange, reflecting its growing global profile and supporting its broader international expansion plans.

Central to that plan is the commercial rollout of GMG’s graphene aluminium-ion battery. GMG expects to manufacture the battery at scale in the coming years, taking advantage of Brisbane’s strengths in advanced manufacturing and its export-ready mindset. With its proximity to key Asia-Pacific markets and a 41 per cent export growth forecast by 2031, Brisbane is increasingly well-positioned to serve global demand.

“More than any other city, Brisbane has a distinctly export-minded focus,” Nicol says. “There’s something about the Queensland mindset – we have a strong base of export-driven resources companies, and that shapes a more global way of thinking.”

That mindset will be on full display when Brisbane hosts the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Nicol says GMG hopes to play a visible role in the Games – whether through air conditioning coatings that improve energy efficiency in venues, or advanced batteries powering next-gen transport, the company is keen to showcase its local innovation on a global stage.

“I’d love to have one of our batteries in an Air Uber flying into the Olympic precinct,” he says. “It’s a big opportunity to show what manufacturers here are capable of – and to demonstrate how far this technology has come.”

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