Elon Musk’s colossal lithium-ion battery has been switched on in Australia. The team, along with the South Australian government, finished the installation of a Powerpack system with 129 megawatts of capacity last week.
Image courtesy of Liam West, Lightly Salted.
The battery stores and carries out energy generated by a nearby wind farm, which is expected to provide reliable electricity to 3,000 homes.
Musk promised to complete the battery within 100 days of signing the contract, reiterating the guidelines laid out by Tesla vice president, Lyndon Rive. Musk stated that if the company failed, he would give the battery to Australia for free. The lithium-ion battery was switched on 63 days after the contract was signed on September 29, beating the 100-day mark.
“South Australia is now leading the world in dispatchable renewable energy, delivered to homes and businesses 24/7,” said South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill in a press release. “This is history in the making.”
The giant lithium-ion battery comes at a perfect time considering the area has been experiencing recurring blackouts that have been causing chaos. According to the Australian Financial Review, a large portion of the country is facing an energy crisis. Battery storage systems like Musk’s are a key factor in Australia’s Energy Plan, which was announced during the crisis.
Looking ahead, Rive noted that the South Australia project could be duplicated anywhere. Musk is already working on other renewable energy projects around the world.
Source: Newsweek
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