Tesla mega-battery in Australia activated

[Gerald]

The world's largest lithium ion battery has begun dispensing power into an electricity grid in South Australia.
The 100-megawatt battery, built by Tesla, was officially activated on Friday. It had in fact provided some power since Thursday due to demand caused by local hot weather.
South Australia has been crippled by electricity problems in recent times.
Tesla boss Elon Musk famously vowed to build the battery within 100 days - a promise that was fulfilled.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42190358

A nice test.

[Gargamel]

I believe I also read that it charges mainly from a solar plant nearby, which is very cool.

But you gotta love the cajones that Elon has to carry.

"Sure we'll help, and we'll have it done by next tuesday!"

I betcha 90% of the people involved thought Australia was getting a free battery.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

I believe I also read that it charges mainly from a solar plant nearby, which is very cool.

But you gotta love the cajones that Elon has to carry.

"Sure we'll help, and we'll have it done by next tuesday!"

I betcha 90% of the people involved thought Australia was getting a free battery.

Well...

[d@rk51d3]

And in case of a blackout, it will only run for a few minutes.

[Reece]

Yes only time will tell as to whether it's a hit or miss!!

[d@rk51d3]

Originally Posted by Reece

Yes only time will tell as to whether it's a hit or miss!!

Better get your sundial out.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by d@rk51d3

And in case of a blackout, it will only run for a few minutes.

Which may be all the time certain critical systems need to recover or drop into safe modes. But most blackouts are caused by infrastructure failures, not power plants shutting off. During the blackout on the East coast of the US in '03 (?), it was caused by a fault in the lines (generaly speaking). The power plants kept producing power, it just didn't go anywhere. All the batteries in the world wouldn't have made a difference.

Batteries are like this are designed to help with brown outs, not black outs, to buffer demand as needed.

[Gerald]

Reece have ya install this batteries now in the house?

[d@rk51d3]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Which may be all the time certain critical systems need to recover or drop into safe modes. But most blackouts are caused by infrastructure failures, not power plants shutting off. During the blackout on the East coast of the US in '03 (?), it was caused by a fault in the lines (generaly speaking). The power plants kept producing power, it just didn't go anywhere. All the batteries in the world wouldn't have made a difference.

Batteries are like this are designed to help with brown outs, not black outs, to buffer demand as needed.

Yet in this case, that's what they've done.
We don't have brownouts, and the battery was built in response to an inrfastructure failure connecting us to an interstate grid (oops. We decommissioned all our power plants), and failure of local wind generators (don't generate power in windy conditions - rofl), that ultimately left the entire state with no power.

Our "intellectual superiors" were pushing this battery as a failsafe against a future recurrence..... which just won't work..... for long enough to matter.

[Reece]

Originally Posted by Vendor

Reece have ya install this batteries now in the house?

The asking price was a bit high so I got some car batteries and solar panels for emergencies, still has a bit of kick in it!!

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Reece

The asking price was a bit high so I got some car batteries and solar panels for emergencies, still has a bit of kick in it!!