Tesla Inc, owned by Elon Musk, has completed construction of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery in Australia, putting it on track to meet a 100-day deadline for getting the battery packs to work in South Australia.
Tesla won a bid in July to build the 129-megawatt-hour battery for South Australia, the country’s most wind power-dependent state, with a vow from Chief Executive Elon Musk to install it within 100 days of signing a grid connection agreement or give it to the state for free.
When the grid connection deal was signed on Sept 29, Tesla was already halfway through installing the battery packs.
Tesla will get the system installed and working 100 days from contract signature or it is free. That serious enough for you?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 10, 2017
“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,” state Premier Jay Weatherill said in a statement.
Congratulations to the Tesla crew and South Australian authorities who worked so hard to get this manufactured and installed in record time! https://t.co/M2zKXlIVn3
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 23, 2017
The state has yet to say how much it would pay for the battery, which is part of a $390 million plan that includes diesel-fired generators to help keep the lights on following a string of blackouts over the past 18 months.
