Tesla Turns on the World's Largest Battery

Back in March, Elon Musk made a bet with Australia that he could build the world’s largest battery in 100 days or less. Last week, he won that bet by building a battery the size of a football field. Musk’s new battery will store excess electricity from a nearby wind farm and can power 30,000 homes for more than an hour.

“South Australia is now leading the world in dispatchable renewable energy, delivered to homes and businesses 24/7,” said South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill in a statement.

Tesla Turns on the World's Largest Battery

From December but still more than relevant. I like the innovations coming from Elon Musk, he's challenging people, and pushing limits. I'd like to see less oil in future and more of this.

I'd like to see an analysis on the energy used to create that battery- from mining and refining resources, to inevitably recycling it.

iirc, a prius does more damage to the earth than a one ton pickup in it's serviceable lifespan. no links handy, just something I remember seeing... batteries are a nasty business.

What happens if it overheats? Like volcano lava across the city type scenario?

a reply to: BotheLumberJack

It's in the outback.

And we (not me) rewarded the local government for this innovative, forward-thinking project by voting them out.

Nothing like an aging population to put a dampener on things.

Interesting.

If you are a country, contact me first before you pay this guy to hook a bunch of batteries up in series.

I will do it for half-price.

Joking, not really.

originally posted by: lordcomac
I'd like to see an analysis on the energy used to create that battery- from mining and refining resources, to inevitably recycling it.

iirc, a prius does more damage to the earth than a one ton pickup in it's serviceable lifespan. no links handy, just something I remember seeing... batteries are a nasty business.

Not to mention if you own a Prius or hybrid then I guess you're quite fine with child slavery. Cobalt anyone?

In a joint-investigation with African Resources Watch (Afrewatch), an African NGO focusing on human rights in the minerals and extractive industries, Amnesty International says it interviewed 90 adults and children working in five artisanal cobalt mine sites. Workers spoke of labouring for 12 hours a day with no protective clothing, and with many experiencing significant health problems as a result.

The report says that child miners as young as seven carried back-breaking loads and worked in intense heat for between one or two dollars a day without face masks or gloves. Several children said they had been beaten by security guards employed by mining companies and forced to pay “fines” by unauthorised mines police sent by state officials to extort money and intimidate workers.

Not to mention that if you are driving an all-electric car you are essentially subsidizing the coal industry, if you live in America. Where do you think the electricity from your house comes from?

But hey.. as long as you feel good about it!

On topic, if Musk is so bedazzling smart, why not tie the battery to solar? Wind and Tidal are stupid inefficient.

But bigger deadly battery... yay!

originally posted by: lordcomac
batteries are a nasty business.

You can get lead out of them and melt it down for casting bullets.

I can see this being a good buffer for solar or wind power. Even an hour of reserve can help with flow of electricity. The wind can stop or clouds can come over and it increases demand on the coal plants during that time. The battery can also absorb spikes so that it does not go back into the generators or panels, although it would be cheaper to install capacitors to help with a lightning strike. I use a whole house surge protector now, it works well, so did the battery backup I first got. But the battery backup only protected the computer, the surge protector protects the house. We got lots of surges before, I hate having things burn out and it is hard to prove that lightning killed things unless you have multiple things burn out at the same time. Insurance deductable is two hundred fifty bucks, the surge protector cost me seventy bucks.

a reply to: Lumenari

Only about 30% of US power generation comes from coal fired plants. It's mostly all natural gas plants now.

a reply to: BotheLumberJack

Elon Musk said he can run the entire United States on Solar.

Combine that with the World Power Grid conceptualized by Buckminster Fuller and perhaps we can have unlimited power for next to no cost around the world.

I suspect many people may not want that.

a reply to: BotheLumberJack

Yawn. Not only is this old “news” but it too late for his company. There are several technologies that blow his tech out of the water.

Flow batteries is the best one. Next is thermal energy storage. Then, energy generation will be more efficient. His whole battery factory will be passe when graphene batteries come out. It is a losing battle no matter what you feel about him. He is behind the curve.

originally posted by: LightAssassin
a reply to: BotheLumberJack

It's in the outback.

And we (not me) rewarded the local government for this innovative, forward-thinking project by voting them out.

Nothing like an aging population to put a dampener on things.

I love Outback!

Keep that # away from my bloomin onions!

Why is this guy coming up with all this cool stuff? Self landing rockets etc.

No one else has never thought of it?

Is he an alien? What kind of name is Elon Musk? Unless it's actually, M'sk On-El.

If anyone was really caring about the earth and elec cars, they would make a great, universal quick change battery for cars.

Pull into a station and change it out in 15 mins or less.

They charge them somewhere with atomic power or solar and return.

But people are greedy.

Sm Med LG, why can't that be built in to the vehicle?

Standard hook ups and space.

Hope it doesn't catch fire like the one in the model x lol...could you imagine that PR...I think he would be done.

originally posted by: CosmicAwakening
What happens if it overheats? Like volcano lava across the city type scenario?

It's not one giant battery, it's an array of smaller batteries that can each be taken offline for repairs. They are easier to maintain than a nuclear reactor or power station, plus they can store energy from any source like wind, solar, hydroelectric and then redistribute it when needed:

This is essentially sci-fi becoming reality. If anyone remembers the original command-and-conquer games, you could build your wind and solar collectors, then build an energy storage station to power everything else.

originally posted by: lordcomac
I'd like to see an analysis on the energy used to create that battery- from mining and refining resources, to inevitably recycling it.

iirc, a prius does more damage to the earth than a one ton pickup in it's serviceable lifespan. no links handy, just something I remember seeing... batteries are a nasty business.

Heretic! How dare you question the doctrine of the green religion.
Renewable energy is clean and free.
Now repent.

I have ideas too, ya know.


Good ideas, the best... lol.

A giant f'n battery in a steakhouse was not one of them.


Maybe hook up some Hooters but leave families alone.

I think the hungry and deprived in the world are greatly amused by the new technological innovation of Musk. God bless.

We have a company here that builds parts for Tesla batteries. Nothing toxic just racks and such. $50k to start working production. Took about 8 months to get a good workforce together. Something about not missing time for 90 thins them out pretty fast.

size of a football field, stores power, only 30k homes, for an hour.

Let's do some math.

If one UPS from Walmart is $45 (Powers basic lights in home for example in power out)

Cost - $1,340,000.00

This Battery - probably 50 + million (likely more).

Another expensive boon.

originally posted by: nOraKat
a reply to: BotheLumberJack

Elon Musk said he can run the entire United States on Solar.

Combine that with the World Power Grid conceptualized by Buckminster Fuller and perhaps we can have unlimited power for next to no cost around the world.

I suspect many people may not want that.

It's good so see people being part of the solution, and I think it would be at it's upmost in innovation to combine Tesla's idea with Fullers, and others, I could see that working.

Or, alternatively, everyone could just go back to doing it the way they have been, there's always complainers in the barrel of monkeys.