Solarizing South Australia
Operational Mega-Lithium Powerpack Jamestown, So. Australia, (credit: Tesla)
A successful project championed by Elon Musk may someday be seen as a turning point in renewable energy production and distribution and where it began. It may represent the start of combining solar and wind power generation production with lithium batteries. Musk and Tesla also won a bet in the process.
Australia has long been a world leader in promoting residential and commercial solar power. The nation is blessed with being one of the sunniest locations on Earth. However, various Australian states have experienced supply and distribution problems during demand peak periods when wind and solar production is low. South Australia, in particular, has experienced multiple 'brownouts' when parts of the state have gone 'went dark' from low renewable power generation. In stepped Elon Musk, Tesla's founder, who approached the Prime Minister of S.A. offering him a bet: if Tesla didn't complete construction of a large, grid scale, lithium storage battery within 100 days of a contract being signed, South Australia could keep the mega-battery at no cost. An agreement was signed with the Australian state and the bet was on. South Australia switched on the Tesla Powerpack facility before the hundred day deadline passed. Tesla's mega-battery began supplying electricity to the State's power grid by power stored from their previously installed solar and wind facilities nearby.
As might be expected in a nation that loves placing a bet, Tesla's battery project was watched closely by the Australian press. News organizations began commenting that this technological development was "history in the making" after Tesla's mega-battery went into operation. The Australian project also caught worldwide attention when the Tesla Powerpack went online offering the potential for renewable energy storage and distribution elsewhere.
The opportunity for renewable energy to play an increasing role in electric power generation has made a big leap into the future. A transition from coal-powered electricity is underway. WHB