Regulator sues Tesla Big Battery in Federal Court over power grid promises
Australia’s Tesla Big Battery, one of the world’s biggest lithium-ion batteries, is facing legal action amid allegations it failed to deliver on its promise of providing services essential to maintaining the stability of the power grid.
The Australian Energy Regulator has filed Federal Court proceedings against the Tesla Big Battery, known as the Hornsdale Power Reserve, which is owned and operated by French renewable energy giant Neoen.
It is alleged the Hornsdale Power Reserve failed to provide “frequency control ancillary services” – services used to maintain the safe operations of the grid following power disruptions – despite making offers and receiving payment from the market operator to be on stand-by to provide them.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Tesla built the huge battery in a remote area of South Australia in 2017. Paired with the adjacent Hornsdale wind farm, the 150-megawatt battery with 193 megawatt-hours of storage has helped reduce intermittency and manage increased demand during periods when the grid is under the most strain.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) informed the regulator of Hornsdale’s alleged conduct after a power system disruption at Queensland’s Kogan Creek power station in October 2019.
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