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Construction of Tesla's giant lithium ion battery completed

By Brooks Hays
An artistic rendering shows Tesla's Powerpack system installed next to the Hornsdale wind farm near Jamestown, South Australia. Photo by Tessla
An artistic rendering shows Tesla's Powerpack system installed next to the Hornsdale wind farm near Jamestown, South Australia. Photo by Tessla

Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Tesla has completed construction of its giant lithium ion battery in Australia.

The company describes the battery as the world's most powerful battery. The so-called Tesla Powerpack will be energized for the first time in the coming days before undergoing a variety of tests, Australia's ABC reported.

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The 100-megawatt battery will store energy generated by the French company Neoen's Hornsdale wind farm near Jamestown, a city in the Mid North region of South Australia.

Australian taxpayers subsidized the battery construction project to the tune of $50 million. In return, South Australia's power grids will have access to the battery as a backup power source. State utilities will also be allowed to siphon energy from the battery to avoid blackouts during peak demand in the summer.

According to Tesla, the 100 megawatts of capacity will be sufficient to power 30,000 homes.

South Australia's partnership with Tesla is part of a comprehensive energy plan put forth by the state's premier, Jay Weatherill. The region has been troubled by supply shortfalls, blackouts and rising energy prices.

"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," Weatherill said in a news release. "The world's largest lithium ion battery will be an important part of our energy mix, and it sends the clearest message that South Australia will be a leader renewable energy with battery storage."

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