Tesla to Install the Largest lithium-ion power storage system in the World

Electric car manufacturer, Tesla has announced in the next three months it would be building what it claims is the biggest lithium-ion battery storage system in the world. It would be a Tesla Powerpack, a big group of interconnected battery packs that are wired into the electrical grid and would be rated at 20mW/80mWh. The company is planning to install this power storage system at its substation in Edison Mira Loma in Southern California..

Tesla was prompted to take this step after the Southern California Gas Company recently closed facility in Aliso Canyon following a methane leak. This reduced the supply of electricity available in the Los Angeles area and will lead to an increase in the demand for electricity. The new Tesla Powerpack will help to handle the extra load and avoid possible blackouts.

The Powerpack can help to reduce stress on the grid by storing power during off-peak hours. During periods when there is extra stress on the grid and the demand for electricity increases, the extra electricity that is stored in the batteries can be released into the grid, thus easing the strain on the grid. Tesla says that this particular Powerpack that it is planning to build can provide power for as many as 2,500 homes for a single day when it is fully charged. Tesla also said that the battery would act as a precursor to a “two-way, flexible grid,” which it sees as integral for creating “a sustainable energy future.”

When it comes to electrical storage systems, cars can act as suppliers and users of energy. Cars with huge battery power may possibly act as sources of power for other devices. It could work the other way too, as with more electric cars which consume electrical energy slated to be on the roads in the next few years, the demand for electricity is likely to increase..