Tesla has partnered with California’s Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to submit a proposal for Tesla’s largest energy storage project to date; one that’s capable of producing up to 1.1GWh.
According to Popular Mechanics, the two entities want to build a lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) with 182.5 MW. “Tesla would supply the BESS with its Powerpack energy system,” the publication writes. A single Tesla Powerpack holds 16 individual battery pods.
According to the proposal, PG&E would have the ability to expand its new facility to running 1.1 GWh. While Tesla would supply the hardware, PG&E would own and operate the facility.
Tesla Down Under
In July 2017, Tesla announced it won a government bid to build the world’s largest lithium-ion battery. Tesla says the 100-megawatt energy storage solution will power much of South Australia.
The 100 MW/129 MWh Powerpack battery system stores wind energy from the Neoen Hornsdale Wind Farm and will speed the advancement of “a resilient and modern grid,” according to Tesla. The Powerpack charges using wind energy and then deliver electricity during peak hours to help maintain the reliable operation of South Australia’s electrical infrastructure.
In February, the latest National Energy Emissions Audit from the Australia Institute shows that in early February, the battery was consistently charging up at night when prices were low, and discharging in the late afternoon, when prices were very high. Currently it’s still summer in the region so those were particularly hot days. The battery is connected to Neoen’s wind farm, around 140 miles north of Adelaide.
The Battery Storage Market
Earlier this year, Reuters reported that US deployments of energy storage systems will nearly triple in 2018 thanks to sharply lower costs and state policies that support the case for installing batteries in homes, businesses and along the power grid.
That forecasted growth of 186% to 1,233 megawatt-hours of storage from 431 MWh compares with the 27% increase in 2017, according to a report by GTM Research and the Energy Storage Association trade group.
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