Tesla boss said the project is a great example of how to replace fossil fuels with renewables.
The battery to be made in South Africa, will be paired to a neighbouring wind farm run by renewable energy company Neoen in Hornsdale to bring added reliability and stability to the state’s power supplies. It is thought to be costing taxpayers about $50m and forms part of the state government’s $550m energy plan. Other elements of the energy plan include installing emergency generators at two sites in Adelaide, a push for more gas-fired power generation and a solar-thermal power plant near Port Augusta. It was prompted by a series of power problems, including a statewide blackout when a freak storm brought down transmission lines a year ago and another event last summer when heavy demand and a lack of electricity flowing through the interconnector with Victoria cut services to thousands of properties.