Tesla's South Australian battery to begin final testing
The world's largest lithium-ion battery being built in South Australia to store renewable energy is about to enter final testing.
State Premier Jay Weatherill has said Elon Musk's Tesla has finished installing the battery powerpacks at Jamestown, in the state's mid-north, where they are linked to an adjacent wind farm.
Weatherill said the 100-megawatt battery will now be energised and tested to ensure it meets all energy market and state government regulatory requirements, and will be up and running in time for the Southern Hemisphere's summer season.
When first announced in July, the battery came with a guarantee from Musk that it would be working within 100 days of the grid interconnection agreement being signed, or it would be free for the South Australian government.
The 100MW/129MWh battery is expected to provide backup and stability services through energy storage to the South Australian grid.
Last week, Musk unveiled the Tesla Semi, an electric truck with a range of 500 miles that is slated to be in production by 2019.
TechRepublic: Elon Musk and the cult of Tesla: How a tech startup rattled the auto industry to its core
While Tesla has yet to disclose the cost, battery size, or distribution plans for its new trucks, a number of companies have already signed up to purchase units.
In September, Musk's SpaceX venture also announced its plans for the BFR rocket, which is intended to allow for manned missions to Mars, as well as travel to any city on Earth within an hour after launch.
With AAP
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