3 ms·

Briefly and maybe not 100% truthy: the state of South Australia produces a lot of its electricity from a wind farm. It brings in extra power from another state

by mabcat 9y ago

Briefly and maybe not 100% truthy: the state of South Australia produces a lot of its electricity from a wind farm. It brings in extra power from another state over a giant cable (the interconnect). A while ago a storm damaged the interconnect and this triggered cascading failsafes that shut down a lot of the state. The wind farm has been a thumb in the eye of the federal government, who is huge on coal. The feds lost no time blaming the blackouts on renewables and sticking it to SA. Elon Musk offered to install a giant battery in what seemed to be a wild-arse publicity stunt. SA said ok do it, and they're getting a giant battery and their energy independence back.

shoo 9y ago
For anyone who wants some more background, here is a report from march this year by AEMO, the australian energy market operator: > Renewable generators now represent approximately 43% of South Australia’s local installed capacity (2,297 MW), with gas-fuelled and liquid-fuelled thermal generators providing the other 57% share (2,987 MW). https://www.aemo.com.au/-/media/Files/Electricity/NEM/Planning_and_Forecasting/SA_Advisory/2017/2017_SAFTR.pdf https://www.aemo.com.au/-/media/Files/Electricity/NEM/Planni...
tomhoward 9y ago
Here's the article and discussion about it from yesterday: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14715679 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14715679
ehnto 9y ago
I had been lightly skeptical until you framed it as a move in spite of the federal government. There were some missing pieces to the puzzle in my mind where I wasn't sure why if we had a technical solution (the interconnector) then why won't we just solve the policy and pricing problem that stops us utilizing it. Partly because I have never seen Australian states as particularly at odds with eachother or the federal government, but the idea of taking the choice of coal or renewables into our own hands is actually really compelling.
prawn 9y ago
Just before that last step, I believe there were 50-100 bids to provide the battery solution. Tesla may not have been a local bid, but I'd say there are other advantages in Musk even visiting Adelaide - made world news, might inspire business confidence, etc. Tesla's battery guy said they could solve SA's power woes within 100 days. Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes tweeted Elon: "how serious are you about this bet? If I can make the $ happen (& politics), can you guarantee the 100MW in 100 days?" Elon replied: "Tesla will get the system installed and working 100 days from contract signature or it is free. That serious enough for you?" Mike's response: "legend! ️ You’re on mate. Give me 7 days to try sort out politics & funding. DM me a quote for approx 100MW cost - mates rates!"

by mabcat 9y ago

shoo 9y ago

For anyone who wants some more background, here is a report from march this year by AEMO, the australian energy market operator: > Renewable generators now represent approximately 43% of South Australia’s local installed capacity (2,297 MW), with gas-fuelled and liquid-fuelled thermal generators providing the other 57% share (2,987 MW). https://www.aemo.com.au/-/media/Files/Electricity/NEM/Planning_and_Forecasting/SA_Advisory/2017/2017_SAFTR.pdf https://www.aemo.com.au/-/media/Files/Electricity/NEM/Planni...

tomhoward 9y ago

Here's the article and discussion about it from yesterday: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14715679 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14715679

ehnto 9y ago

I had been lightly skeptical until you framed it as a move in spite of the federal government. There were some missing pieces to the puzzle in my mind where I wasn't sure why if we had a technical solution (the interconnector) then why won't we just solve the policy and pricing problem that stops us utilizing it. Partly because I have never seen Australian states as particularly at odds with eachother or the federal government, but the idea of taking the choice of coal or renewables into our own hands is actually really compelling.

prawn 9y ago

Just before that last step, I believe there were 50-100 bids to provide the battery solution. Tesla may not have been a local bid, but I'd say there are other advantages in Musk even visiting Adelaide - made world news, might inspire business confidence, etc. Tesla's battery guy said they could solve SA's power woes within 100 days. Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes tweeted Elon: "how serious are you about this bet? If I can make the $ happen (& politics), can you guarantee the 100MW in 100 days?" Elon replied: "Tesla will get the system installed and working 100 days from contract signature or it is free. That serious enough for you?" Mike's response: "legend! ️ You’re on mate. Give me 7 days to try sort out politics & funding. DM me a quote for approx 100MW cost - mates rates!"