The 100MW/129MWh battery is connected to French developer Neoen’s 309MW three-phase project near Jamestown, South Australia.
It was officially launched on 1 December following testing to ensure its ability to both act as a generator and charge to and from Australia’s grid, the National Energy Market.
When fully charged, the battery, which consists of Tesla’s Powerpack system, based on the same system used in its cars, can power up to 30,000 homes for just over an hour, but it will mostly be used to support and stabilise the grid.
Tesla CEO Musk had offered to fix the state’s power system by installing the battery within 100 days of signing the grid connection agreement or do it for free, following a series of blackouts.
The battery was delivered 63 days after the contract was signed.
Its installation "shows that a sustainable, effective energy solution is possible", Tesla stated.
South Australia is now leading the world in dispatchable renewable energy, delivered to homes and businesses 24/7. The world’s biggest lithium ion battery. History in the making. @Tesla #cleanenergy #renewables pic.twitter.com/QCDfr1gob4
— Jay Weatherill (@JayWeatherill) 1 December 2017
South Australia premier Jay Weatherill said the launch creates "self-sufficiency" for the state, and would help prevent the state-wide blackouts that crippled South Australia last September.
"We have had an enormously proud history in renewable energy with our wind and solar power, but the critical thing now is storage.
"With this battery we will be able to dispatch power 24/7 to people and businesses across South Australia."
This year, the state hit its target of sourcing 50% of its energy from renewables by 2025 – eight years ahead of schedule. It currently has more than 1.65GW of wind capacity installed, according to Windpower Intelligence, the research and data division of Windpower Monthly, with several large projects awaiting construction or on hold.
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