Tesla switches on the world’s biggest battery in Australia

Just a week after completing construction of the world’s largest lithium ion battery in Australia, Tesla has switched on its enormous device.

The 129-megawatt battery will be used to feed Australia’s shaky power grid for the first day of summer, meeting a promise by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, to build it in 100 days or give it free. 

Tesla hopes the battery will be the first step to Australia becoming a renewable energy powerhouse and put an end to power outages. 

Speaking at the official launch at the Hornsdale wind farm, Premier Jay Weatherill said: ‘South Australia is now leading the world in dispatchable renewable energy, delivered to homes and businesses 24/7.’

He added: ‘This is history in the making.’

Tesla won a bid in July to build the battery for South Australia, the country’s most wind power-dependent state. 

Musk vowed to install it within 100 days of signing a grid connection agreement or give it to the state for free.

When the grid connection deal was signed on Sept 29, Tesla was already half way through installing the battery packs.

Finishing last week meant that the firm took just 55 days to complete the batteries.

The Tesla Powerpacks have been installed at a wind farm run by France’s Neoen.

The 129-megawatt battery will be used to feed Australia’s shaky power grid for the first day of summer, meeting a promise by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, to build it in 100 days or give it free 

Following the completion of the battery last week, Musk tweeted: ‘Congratulations to the Tesla crew and South Australian authorities who worked so hard to get this manufactured and installed in record time!’ 

Mr Weatherill said: ‘While others are just talking, we are delivering our energy plan, making South Australia more self-sufficient, and providing back up power and more affordable energy for South Australians this summer.’

Following the completion of the battery last week, Musk tweeted: ‘Congratulations to the Tesla crew and South Australian authorities who worked so hard to get this manufactured and installed in record time!’ 

The state has yet to say how much it paid for the battery, which is part of a £293 million ($390 million) plan that includes diesel-fired generators to help keep the lights on following a string of blackouts over the past 18 months.

Australia’s energy market operator has warned that power supply will be tight this summer, particularly in South Australia and neighbouring Victoria, where one of the market’s biggest coal-fired power plants was shut in March.

Musk said in July the cost to Tesla would be ‘$50 million [US $39 million/ £29 million] or more’ if it failed to deliver the project on time

While South Australia hopes the Tesla battery will forestall further blackouts, not everyone is behind the project.

Scott Morrison, Australia’s treasurer, said: ‘By all means, have the world’s biggest battery, have the world’s biggest banana, have the world’s biggest prawn like we have on the roadside around the country, but that is not solving the problem. 

The battery was built at a wind farm operated by France’s Neoen that is located about 225 km (141 miles) from the South Australian capital of Adelaide and will supply power to the lithium-ion storage cells

‘Thirty thousand SA households could not get through watching one episode of Australia’s Ninja Warrior with this big battery, so let’s not pretend it is a solution.’  

Analysts have estimated the battery should cost around $750 (US $585/£439) to $950 (US $741/£556) per kilowatt, or up to $95 million (US $74 million/£56 million). 

Musk said in July the cost to Tesla would be ‘$50 million [US $39 million/£29 million] or more’ if it failed to deliver the project on time.