It wasn’t due to be switched on until tomorrow, but what has been hailed as an answer to (some of) South Australia’s energy woes will be up and running as of this morning.
The 100MW/129MWh installation – the largest lithium-ion storage facility in the world – is capable of powering 30,000 homes for an hour or so. The early launch is due to extreme weather conditions expected in the state over the next few days.
With huge storms hitting South Australia, thousands of homes have already suffered blackouts, and yet more rain is on its way.
This, in addition with hot temperatures overnight even led the Australian Energy Market Operator to pay customers to use less power over the peak periods.
So it makes sense to switch on what has become the fanciest backup generator to ever exist, right?
The system will provide emergency power, and lower the chance of brownout events.
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2017/07/all-the-details-on-teslas-giant-australian-batteryt/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/tesla_powerpack_2-410×231.jpg” title=”All The Details On Tesla’s Giant Australian Battery” excerpt=”Tesla is building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery in South Australia — an installation 60 per cent larger than any other large-scale battery energy storage system on the planet.
In partnership with the SA government and French renewables company Neoen, alongside the third stage of the Hornsdale Wind Farm, the PowerPack battery farm will top 100 megawatts of capacity and provide 129 megawatt-hours of energy generation to the region — load balancing the state’s renewable energy generation and allowing emergency back-up power if a shortfall in energy production is predicted.”]
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2017/07/what-experts-have-to-say-about-teslas-giant-australian-battery/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/tesla_powerpack_2-410×231.jpg” title=”What Experts Have To Say About Tesla’s Giant Australian Battery” excerpt=”Last week South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill announced he would take Elon Musk up on his offer to power the state, with the world’s largest lithium ion battery set to be installed in collaboration with French renewable company Neoen and the State Government.
But will it solve the state’s power woes? Australian experts weigh in below.”]