As Tesla Model 3 production begins, Elon Musk announces biggest battery on other side of the world [Video]
You'd think the biggest Tesla [NASDAQ: TSLA] news today would be surrounding landmark production of Tesla Model 3 SN1 — aka serial number 1. However, news emerged that Elon Musk was on the other side of the world. Wall Street Journal* reports, "Tesla Inc.’s Elon Musk has agreed to build the world’s largest lithium-ion battery system in Australia, an ambitious project that he hopes will show how the technology can help solve energy problems."
Above: Tesla is planning the world's biggest battery installation in South Australia (Image: Tesla)
It's reported that, "The plan is to build a 100-megawatt storage system in the state of South Australia—which has been hit by a string of blackouts over the past year—that will collect power generated by a wind farm built by French energy company Neoen." Musk emphasized the magnitude of the project, explaining: "“This is not a minor foray into the frontier, this is like going three times further than anyone has gone before."
Above: More on Tesla's project in South Australia (Youtube: Jay Weatherill)
It turns out that "Tesla was selected from more than 90 bids to build a storage system for the state, said South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill. The value of the project wasn’t disclosed. The origins of the deal trace back to a Twitter exchange in March between Mr. Musk and local entrepreneur Mike Cannon-Brookes, which led to conversations between Mr. Musk and Mr. Weatherill and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull."
Above: Tesla CEO Elon Musk and South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill (Twitter: Jay Weatherill)
True to his word, "Mr. Musk pledged to complete the project—which he said will be three times more powerful than any other battery system in the world—within 100 days of signing an agreement or it would be free." In addition, "Once the project is completed, which Tesla expects will happen by the start of the Australian summer in December, it will be larger than a storage facility in the Southern California desert also built on Tesla batteries."
Above: Tesla Powerpack installation (Image: Tesla)
According to Tesla, "The project will provide enough power for more than 30,000 homes, about equal to the number of homes that lost power during the blackouts." Back in Fremont, the Tesla factory will get started on the first-ever production Model 3. Coming off historic rocket launches at SpaceX, chalk up another landmark milestone (or two) for Tesla today — just another week of work for the Iron Man, Elon Musk.
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*Source: Wall Street Journal
