Hornsdale Power Reserve, which features the world's largest lithium-ion battery, has been launched on Friday, Dec. 1 by Premier of South Australia, Jay Weatherill, and Neoen deputy chief executive, Romain Desrousseaux.
It's a landmark day for the renewable energy production and for its future.
Elon Musk's Largest Lithium-Ion Battery Goes Live
Musk's massive lithium-ion battery installation or Tesla's powerpacks, which are connected to Neoen's Hornsdale wind farm, are now operational one day before the schedule.
It means that for the first time, clean and sustainable wind energy is available for use 24 hours a day. Whether there is wind blowing or not, the largest battery installation complements the wind farm and increases the reliability of the system.
The power generated by the combination of these two is delivered to National Energy Market in South Australia. It will reduce the load on non-renewable energy resources and cut back on blackouts plaguing the region. Tesla's batteries are not only able to generate energy, but also act as the exchange point for transfer of electricity.
Keeping his promise of a 100-day deadline, Musk was able to deliver the finished project within 63 days. Tesla has also been able to successfully pass all the regulatory testing to make it stand out and prove its capability.
The Story Behind Tesla Horndale Power Reserve
In March 2017, State Government of Australia had announced its plans for energy generation in its region. The objective was to produce clean energy which is both affordable and reliable. The project was estimated with a $550 million fund.
This plan involved building the nation's largest battery, which will store renewable energy and also back up electricity for whenever it is needed. In a competitive bid, the French firm Neoen and the US firm Tesla won the contract. The result is the world's largest lithium-ion battery reserve alongside a wind farm near Jamestown.
The battery reserve is equivalent to the size of a football field in the U.S. It can power more than 30,000 houses and prevent energy loss.
"This is history in making," said Weatherill. Also, in a statement, Tesla said that the completed installation "shows that a sustainable, effective energy solution is possible."
The renewable energy generation in South Australia is now one of a kind, paving way for such additional projects around the world. Apart from providing energy to the household sector, the project will now also cater to small size businesses in the region.
