Tesla achieves a record and builds the world's largest lithium-ion battery in 100 days. With this, Elon Musk also wins a $50 million bet.
Now, South Australia can resolve its crippling energy issues and Elon Musk is successful in keeping his promise of 100-day completion or free installation of largest lithium-ion battery power field.
Tesla's 100-Day Deadline Quest
South Australia was facing blackouts. Its energy needs were unfulfilled, it needed to see to this problem on urgent basis. When Elon Musk came into the picture to propose a plan for a lithium-ion battery, which he promised to complete in 100-days or else will finish the work for free. If he would have failed to deliver within 100 days the project would have cost him more than $50 million.
All the groundwork for the project is now in the final stage and the testing of 100-megawatt power project will start by Dec. 1. Once fully charged, the Tesla batteries will hold energy enough for 8,000 homes for roughly 24 hours. If, however, the battery is used for blackouts, then it can provide power to more than 30,000 houses for about 1 hour.
The Tesla battery energy field might seem like a lot, but this is only a small part of $550 million energy plan by the State. The person behind this initiative is the Premier of South Australian state Jay Weatherill. The plan to build energy field came about after a statewide blackout. Apart from what Tesla is working on, there is a gas-fired generator, which is due for this summer. It will provide 250MW and will cost $360 million.
The Tesla battery is ultimately the result of a Twitter bet between Elon Musk and Atlassian's Mike Cannon-Brookes which took place last March. Musk started working on the project when he visited Adelaide in September to sign off the deal between him and the state of Australia. However, the work on the battery had already started back at Tesla facility after the government gave its contract to Musk back in July.
What Lies Ahead For The Future Of World's Largest Lithium-Ion Battery
The state authorities are upbeat on the progress of project between them and Tesla. If everything goes well, the State will mark a new chapter in the history of power generation based on renewable and environment-friendly method.
"While others are just talking, we are delivering our energy plan, making South Australia more self-sufficient, and providing backup power and more affordable energy for South Australians this summer," says state Premier Jay Weatherill.
Holy s#%t https://t.co/I0Kiw3wZsd
— Mike Cannon-Brookes (@mcannonbrookes) March 9, 2017
