Elon Musk wins his bet with big battery launch

The world's biggest lithium-ion battery is about to be launched in South Australia, winning a $50 million bet for tech entrepreneur Elon Musk

AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is not expected to attend Friday's lunch of the battery, but who knows? (AAP)

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is set to make good on his promise to build the world's largest lithium-ion battery within 100 days or provide it free, with the facility at Jamestown set for its official launch.

Construction of the Tesla Powerpacks in South Australia's mid-north was completed recently with the 100-megawatt power plant undergoing final testing over the past few days.

It will be paired to the neighbouring Neoen Hornsdale Wind Farm to bring added reliability and stability to the state's power supplies.

Once commissioned, it has the capacity to power 30,000 homes for up to an hour in the event of a severe blackout, but is more likely to be called into action to even out electricity supplies at less critical times.
Premier Jay Weatherill says the battery forms a key part of the state's $530 million energy plan which also includes installation of back-up generators and support for a solar-thermal power plant at Port Augusta.

The plan was developed after the statewide blackout in September last year.

But the government has been coy about revealing the cost, the premier suggesting only that the state got a bargain.

Estimates vary greatly from as little as $30 million to more than $100 million. A price tag of about $50 million is more likely.

And if that's the case, Mr Musk is set to double his money, with fellow tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes agreeing to pay up on the $50 million bet he had with the Tesla boss.

In a much-publicised Twitter exchange in March, Mr Cannon-Brookes challenged Mr Musk to solve South Australia's energy problems.

Mr Musk responded that if he couldn't build a 100-megawatt battery in 100 days from signing the contract he would provide it free.

At the end of the day, Tesla will easily beat the deadline, finishing the battery in about 60 days from inking the deal, though it did get a head start on construction.

Last week, Mr Cannon-Brookes praised the efforts of the Tesla team and SA government officials, describing it as a huge step forward and proof of what Australia could achieve.

"Never been more happy to lose a bet," he said.

Mr Musk is not expected to attend Friday's launch, though with the tech guru, anything is possible.

He last visited the site in late September when he said it showed the way to replace fossil fuels with renewables.

"This is a great example to the rest of the world of what can be done," he said.

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