Home Tesla to build world’s largest lithium-ion battery in South Australia

Tesla to build world’s largest lithium-ion battery in South Australia

Tesla has won a contract to build the largest lithium-ion battery in the world in South Australia, which, at 129MWh, will be three times larger than the current holder, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The battery will be supplied renewable energy from French utility Neoen’s Hornsdale wind farm. The framework used will be similar to Tesla’s Powerpack, the company’s industrial energy storage solution announced in 2015.

See Also: Seat adjustments still manual, as Tesla shuffles Autopilot execs

In March, Musk said Tesla could get the system running in 100 days or it’s free, an audacious offer that is in the final contract. The company recently completed a 80MWh test run in California, managing to build the battery farm in 90 days.

The battery will form part of South Australia’s $550 AUD million ($380 million) energy plan, drawn up after a statewide energy blackout in the region. Some Australian politicians have accused the state government of moving too quickly to renewables, while others suggest rising demand is the cause.

“You can essentially charge up the battery packs when you have excess power when the cost of production is very low… then discharge it when the cost of power production is high, and this effectively lowers the average cost to the end customer,” said Musk.

Tesla already has the largest battery factory in the world, with the Gigafactory, so adding the biggest battery to the list of achievements seems only natural. The announcement comes amid a whirlwind of bad press for the company, its stock price plummeting to $310 from $365 at the start of the month.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.