The Tesla Megapack is a large-scale rechargeable lithium-ion battery stationary energy storage product, intended for use at battery storage power stations, manufactured by Tesla Energy, the energy subsidiary of Tesla, Inc.
 Tesla Megapack set of 4 with solar canopy 3D sketch | |
| Type | Grid energy storage |
|---|---|
| Inception | June 2019 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla Energy |
| Website | tesla |
Launched in 2019, a Megapack can store up to 3.9 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity. Each Megapack is a container of similar size to an intermodal container. They are designed to be deployed by electric utilities. The energy stored can be used as required, for example during periods of peak electricity demand or when grid power is disrupted.
Tesla Energy also offers the Powerwall, a smaller energy storage device intended for home use.
History
edit
On April 30, 2015, Tesla announced that it would sell standalone battery storage products to consumers and utilities.[1] Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that the company's battery storage products could be used to improve the reliability of intermittent renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind.[1]
Prior to the Megapack launch, Tesla used its 200 kilowatt-hour (kWh) Powerpack energy storage product to meet the needs of utilities with large-scale storage requirements. During 2015 and 2016, Tesla deployed a combined 300 MWh of Powerwall and Powerpack technology, including an 80 MWh deployment of Powerpacks at the Mira Loma substation in Southern California.[2] In 2017, Tesla used Powerpacks to deploy 129 MWh of battery storage at the Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia,[3] the biggest deployment of lithium-ion grid battery storage in the world at the time.[4]
Design work, at Giga Nevada, began on the Megapack project at least as early as the first half of 2018.[5]
In July 2019, Megapack launched.[6] It was described by Tesla as a utility-scale energy storage product, suitable for power stations and utilities.[6] Tesla claimed that Megapacks would be compatible with Tesla power station monitoring and energy control software, Powerhub and Autobidder.[6] The company stated that Megapack was designed to meet the needs of large-scale battery storage projects, as with the Hornsdale Power Reserve.[6]
Tesla acquired a former JC Penney's distribution center in Lathrop, California, in 2021 and converted it into a battery plant called Megafactory,[7] with a target capacity of 40 GWh/year when finished.[8] Next-generation Megapacks use prismatic lithium iron phosphate cells,[9] for example in the 585 MWh Kapolei, Hawaii facility.[10]
Tesla’s record energy deployment was achieved in Q1 2023, adding 3.9 GWh in a single quarter, a 360% year-over-year increase.[11][needs update]
In 2023, Tesla announced a new “Megafactory” in Shanghai to manufacture Megapacks, with the goal of producing about 10,000 packs per year.[12]
Specifications
edit| Model | Unit Cost | Capacity | Power | Round Trip Efficiency | Dimensions (W x H x D)[13] | Weight[13] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Megapack | $1.24M | 2.6 MWh[14] | 1 MW[15] | 23.52 ft × 8.27 ft × 5.44 ft (7.168 m × 2.522 m × 1.659 m) |
56,000 lb (25,400 kg) | |
| Megapack 2 | $1.47M | 3.854 MWh | 1.284 MW | 92.0% | 23.79 ft × 8.22 ft × 5.37 ft (7.25 m × 2.506 m × 1.637 m) |
67,200 lb (30,500 kg) |
| Megapack 2 XL | $1.39M | 3.916 MWh | 1.927 MW | 93.7% | 28.87 ft × 9.14 ft × 5.41 ft (8.8 m × 2.785 m × 1.65 m) |
84,000 lb (38,100 kg) |
Megapacks are assembled at the Tesla Megafactory in Lathrop, California.
Terms
editEach Megapack comes with a 15-year "no defect" and "energy retention" warranty.[15] A 10 or 20 year "performance guarantee" is available for an additional cost.[15] Once a Megapack has reached the end of its useful life, Tesla says they can be returned for recycling.[16]
Megapacks are pre-assembled, including "battery modules, bi-directional inverters, a thermal management system, an AC main breaker and controls."[17]
Tesla requires customers to purchase a maintenance service agreement. Each Megapack receives a minor annual service, and a major service every ten years. The annual maintenance includes inspections and cleaning. The ten-year maintenance includes activities such as replacing the pump and fan for the thermal management system and refilling the coolant fluid.[18] Maintenance is expected to take about an hour per Megapack.[16]
Design
editThe Megapack thermal management system is located at the top of each unit.[16] It uses coolant fluid, made of an equal-parts mixture of ethylene glycol and water, to keep the battery at operating temperature.[16]
Each Megapack weighs approximately 51,000 pounds (23,000 kg) and the enclosure is built to a similar size as an intermodal container and includes twistlock fittings to allow automated handling.
Applications
edit
Grid batteries are used for ancillary services such as control of frequency and phase, black start, operating reserve etc.
Peak power
editMegapacks are designed for large-scale energy storage. Megapacks are used by utilities to replace peaker power plants,[20] which generate energy during periods of peak demand. Megapacks store grid energy rather than generating it from fuel.[21]
Powerpacks continue to be used by utilities to meet smaller-scale grid energy storage requirements. For example, a 25 MW / 52 MWh deployment of Powerpacks is in use at the Lake Bonney Wind Farm in South Australia.[22]
Time shifting
editEnergy storage has become a requirement to help convert intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar into firm power.[23]
Other energy storage solutions, such as pumped hydroelectric storage, dominate the time-shift market. As of 2019, pumped hydroelectric storage accounted for 96% of global energy storage capacity.[24] Pumped hydroelectric storage systems have lower efficiency, but longer lifetimes than battery storage.[24]
Megapack can be deployed more quickly than other storage technologies.[25]
Supercharger stations
edit
Megapacks have been installed at Tesla Supercharger stations that also have solar canopies to help power the Megapacks.[26] Megapacks can smooth out electric demand on the local power grid and use the stored Megapacks electricity during peak demand so there aren't excessive surcharges on electricity to charge the electric vehicles.[27]
Deployments
editCompleted
editIn November 2019, Tesla used a Megapack to power a mobile recharging station for Tesla electric vehicles in California.[28] The mobile Supercharger delivered 125 kW, and was transported on a flat trailer attached to a truck between deployment locations.[28]
In December 2019, Tesla delivered a 1.25 MW/2.5 MWh Megapack to the Millidgeville Substation in Saint John, Canada for peak shaving.[29][30] The battery is estimated to save owner Saint John Energy CA$200,000 per year.[31] It became operational on April 3, 2020.[32]
The 300 MW/450 MWh Victorian Big Battery near Geelong, Australia,[33] constituted the largest battery in the southern hemisphere at the time.[34] The commissioning process was halted due to a fire (see "Safety" section), and the lessons learned were applied to other batteries.[35] The battery was commissioned on time in December 2021, a year after contract,[36] with an estimated return on investment of 2.4.[37]
In December 2021, Strata Solar, an American commercial solar services provider, deployed a 100 MW/400 MWh energy storage facility in Ventura County, California, using 142 Megapacks.[38] The deployment replaced a natural-gas peaker plant.
As of June 2022, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) operates a 182.5 MW/730 MWh 256-Megapack system at Moss Landing, in Monterey County.[39][40][6][41]
TransAlta owns and operates a 10 MW/20 MWh Megapack system near Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada, which was completed in October 2020.[42] As of July 2024, it is one of ten active storage sites in Alberta,[43] and all are Megapacks.
Safety
editGrid-scale battery standards and fire containment practices are at an early stage of development.[44]
Fire risks are one factor that has delayed the deployment of some utility energy storage systems. Battery fires cannot be extinguished with water, which is the primary firefighting technique in most communities. A fire in a single cell can cascade to others via thermal runaway, possibly in milliseconds, potentially creating a major hazard. [44]
Preventing fires involves multiple layers of protection. First, is to prevent fire in a single cell, by eliminating sparks and short circuits. However, grid-scale systems face potential problems such as coolant leaks and faulty installation. Venting flammable gases and improved insulation reduce cascade risks. Placing controls outside of the container gives more management options. Instead of suppressants, monitoring the situation while watering surrounding areas can help contain the fire. Sensors that track local weather conditions can help avoid overheating. Lithium-free designs with lower fire risks are possible.[44]
“Plume modeling” attempts to predict how gases from burning battery chemicals might travel. The gases produced vary across battery types, hydrogen fluoride (HF) are of particular concern even at low concentrations. A later plume analysis by Vistra reported that concentrations of HF above California exposure limits could spread across an area 1300 feet in diameter under wind conditions that occur 7 percent of the year.[44]
In Raquette Lake, New York, the town passed a one-year moratorium preventing battery installation in response to protests citing fires at three New York battery installations. Protestors cited a fire in Lyme New York that burned for four days.[44]
A Megapack ignited at PG&E's Moss Landing facility in September 2022. The fire led to a day-long shelter-in-place advisory. PG&E stated that safety measures included thermal alarms that can shut down the system, an incident command center, an audible evacuation alarm, pre-fire planning with local fire crews and emergency shut down protocols. Heat-suppression systems, intended to curb thermal runaway, were accidentally triggered, dousing batteries in water that caused arcing and short circuiting. The plant was shut down for months.[45] Vistra's third installation in Moss Landing adopted the outdoor container model instead of putting the racks under a single roof. (Vistra stated that the outdoor design was chosen to expedite construction.)[44][46]
In July 2021, one of the 212 Megapack modules at the Victorian Big Battery project caught fire[47] due to a coolant leak while the battery was unmonitored. That ignited the adjacent Megapack.[35] Three days later, the fire had burnt itself out as preferred by the fire department.[48][49][44]
A 50 MW / 100 MWh battery project using Tesla Megapack 2 is under construction in Bouldercombe near Rockhampton, Queensland.[50] The alternating current section caught fire in September 2023 and spread to the cells of one Megapack module, also damaging the adjacent module. Both modules are being replaced by Tesla. Other 36 modules were operational a couple of days later.[51]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Castelvecchi, Davide (May 1, 2015). "Will Tesla's battery change the energy market?". Nature: nature.2015.17469. doi:10.1038/nature.2015.17469. ISSN 0028-0836. S2CID 138439698.
- ^ Lambert, Fred (January 23, 2017). "Tesla quietly brings online its massive – biggest in the world – 80 MWh Powerpack station with Southern California Edison". Electrek. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ Wahlquist, Calla (September 27, 2018). "South Australia's Tesla battery on track to make back a third of cost in a year". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ Normile, Dennis (July 7, 2017). "Tesla to build titanic battery facility". Science. doi:10.1126/science.aan7072. ISSN 0036-8075.
- ^ Lambert, Fred (October 30, 2018). "Tesla is working on a new 'Megapack' energy module at Gigafactory 1". Electrek. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Introducing Megapack: Utility-Scale Energy Storage". www.tesla.com. July 29, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ Campbell, Jason (September 23, 2021). "Lathrop Lands Tesla Mega Battery Plant". Mantica / Ripon Bulletin. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "Tesla ramps up hiring for Megafactory". Motonewstoday.com. September 8, 2022.
- ^ Lee-Jones, Sarah (September 22, 2021). "New Tesla Megafactory Breaks Ground in Lathrop, California". Tesla North. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ "Plus Power switches on 185 MW battery in Hawaii". January 12, 2024.
- ^ Lambert, Fred (May 31, 2023). "Tesla to power new massive $500 million energy storage project". Electrek.
- ^ Shakir, Umar (April 10, 2023). "Tesla's next Megapack battery storage factory will be in Shanghai". The Verge. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ a b "Industrial Lithium-Ion Battery Emergency Response Guide" (PDF). November 11, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ^ Lambert, Fred (July 29, 2019). "Tesla launches its Megapack, a new massive 3 MWh energy storage product". Electrek. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
- ^ a b c "ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31". Tesla. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION". County of Monterey.
- ^ O'Kane, Sean (July 29, 2019). "Tesla's Megapack battery is big enough to help grids handle peak demand". The Verge. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Tesla (March 18, 2022). "Megapack Maintenance Agreement" (PDF). tesla-cdn.thron.com.
- ^ "Tesla Megapack with Solar Canopy Launched by NineDot Energy in New York".
- ^ Vorrath, Sophie (February 28, 2020). "World's largest Tesla megapack battery project approved for California". RenewEconomy. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Krawczyk, Piotr; Śliwińska, Anna (March 16, 2020). "Eco-Efficiency Assessment of the Application of Large-Scale Rechargeable Batteries in a Coal-Fired Power Plant". Energies. 13 (6): 1384. doi:10.3390/en13061384. ISSN 1996-1073.
- ^ Parkinson, Giles (November 5, 2019). "Lake Bonney battery charges up for first time in South Australia". RenewEconomy. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ "Grid-Scale Battery Storage Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
- ^ a b "U.S. Grid Energy Storage Factsheet | Center for Sustainable Systems". css.umich.edu. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ "Batteries vs pumped storage hydropower – a place for both?". RenewEconomy. June 21, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ "First Known Tesla V4 Supercharger with Solar Panels & Megapack Is Coming to Arizona". TESMANIAN.
- ^ "New Tesla V4 Supercharger site to feature Megapack battery storage and solar generation". September 20, 2022.
- ^ a b Lambert, Fred (November 29, 2019). "Tesla deploys new mobile Supercharger powered by Megapack instead of diesel generators". Electrek. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ "Saint John Energy adding money-saving battery power to its energy grid". Global News. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ McCreadie, Danielle. "Saint John Energy Joins Partnership With Tesla". Country 94. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ Lambert, Fred (March 9, 2020). "Tesla deploys new Megapack in Canada, could save small utility $200,000 per year". Electrek. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ "Saint John Energy". www.facebook.com. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- ^ "The Victorian Big Battery Q&A". The Victorian Big Battery Q&A. Victorian Government. November 5, 2020. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ "Victoria to house largest battery in southern hemisphere". ABC News. November 5, 2020. Archived from the original on October 14, 2021.
- ^ a b Parkinson, Giles (September 27, 2021). "Australia's biggest battery given all clear after Tesla Megapack fire investigation". RenewEconomy. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021.
- ^ Parkinson, Giles (December 7, 2021). "Australia's biggest battery officially opened, 12 months after contract awarded". RenewEconomy. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021.
- ^ Colthorpe, Andy (December 8, 2021). "Victorian Big Battery: Australia's biggest battery storage system at 450MWh, is online". Energy Storage News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021.
- ^ Fox, Eva (December 18, 2021). "142 Tesla Megapacks Replace Fossil Fuel-Powered Peaker Plant in California, Shows Company Video". TESMANIAN. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ Lambert, Fred (June 29, 2018). "Tesla and PG&E are working on a massive 'up to 1.1 GWh' Powerpack battery system". Electrek. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Lambert, Fred (February 27, 2020). "Tesla's massive 1GWh Megapack battery project with PG&E is approved". Electrek. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "California ISO – A golden age of energy storage". www.caiso.com. June 14, 2022.
- ^ "Windcharger Battery Storage". TransAlta. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ^ List of generating stations in Alberta
- ^ a b c d e f g Barber, Gregory. "Big Batteries Are Booming. So Are Fears They'll Catch Fire". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ Balderas, Christian (September 22, 2022). "Residents left worried after PG&E's Tesla-powered battery plant catches fire". KSBW. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ Murray, Cameron (September 21, 2022). "Fire at PG&E's Tesla battery storage facility in Moss Landing under control, authorities lift closures". Energy Storage News.
- ^ "Fire breaks out at giant battery project near Geelong". ABC News. July 30, 2021. Archived from the original on October 14, 2021.
- ^ Parkinson, Giles (August 1, 2021). "Tesla Megapack still burning, no word if any delays to Victoria Big Battery". RenewEconomy. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021.
no point trying to put the fire out, merely contain it and stop it from spreading to other containers
- ^ Morgan, Lucy Battersby, Cassandra (August 2, 2021). "Blaze at Tesla Big Battery extinguished after three days". The Age. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "50MW/100MWh Bouldercombe Battery Project". Genex Power. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ Peacock, Bella (November 7, 2023). "Queensland Bouldercombe battery fire ignited on grid side, not within Megapack, analysis finds". pv magazine Australia.