Slashdot Mirror
Tesla To Construct 'Virtual Solar Power Plant' Using 50,000 Homes (cleantechnica.com)
Long-time Slashdot readers denbesten, haruchai, and Kant all submitted this story. CleanTechnica reports:
Tesla and the government of South Australia have announced a stunning new project that could change how electricity is generated not only in Australia but in every country in the world. They plan to install rooftop solar system on 50,000 homes in the next four years and link them them together with grid storage facilities to create the largest virtual solar power plant in history. And here's the kicker: The rooftop solar systems will be free. The cost of the project will be recouped over time by selling the electricity generated to those who consume it.
"We will use people's homes as a way to generate energy for the South Australian grid, with participating households benefiting with significant savings in their energy bills," says South Australia's premier Jay Weatherill. "More renewable energy means cheaper power for all South Australians..." Price predicts utility bills for participating households will be slashed by 30%.
Electrek reports that the project will result in at least 650 MWh of additional energy storage capacity, and Tesla points out that "At key moments, the virtual power plant could provide as much capacity as a large gas turbine or coal power plant."
"We will use people's homes as a way to generate energy for the South Australian grid, with participating households benefiting with significant savings in their energy bills," says South Australia's premier Jay Weatherill. "More renewable energy means cheaper power for all South Australians..." Price predicts utility bills for participating households will be slashed by 30%.
Electrek reports that the project will result in at least 650 MWh of additional energy storage capacity, and Tesla points out that "At key moments, the virtual power plant could provide as much capacity as a large gas turbine or coal power plant."
Because they'll sell you electricity below market rates and not charge for installation or maintenance of the system.
One of the Australian "lower level govvie drones" quoted in the article was the premier of South Australia, so not exactly lower level. Your theme seems to be that those in government are always stupid, corporations making profit is always evil, and absolute cynicism about everything is always warranted. You could be replaced by one of those little dippy drinking birds placed in the voting booth every election and the world wouldn't even notice your nonexistence.
I don't trust atoms -- they make up stuff.
Ooh, youtube citations! I can do that too:
Solar is becoming cheaper than all other alternative energy sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
He specifically talks about nuclear here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Tony Seba suggests that personal rooftop solar will eventually be cheaper than any grid supply, even a fantastical free energy supply, because its cost will drop below the cost of transmission:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Ask me about repetitive DNA