The two largest batteries in the world will be located less than 100 miles from one another, if Gupta's plan moves ahead. His firm recently acquired the Whyalla Steelworks, with plans to use cheaper renewable energy at the facility. The plan could turn Port Augusta and Whyalla into a renewable energy hub. Tesla completed its battery last year following a high-profile bet from Musk that the company could install the project in 100 days or it would be free to South Australia, at a cost of about $50 million to Tesla. The project is located at Neoen’s 315 MW Hornsdale wind farm. Tesla's system, at the time it was completed, topped San Diego Gas & Electric's 120 MWh Escondido storage facility to stake claim to the "largest" battery. Before SDG&E's Escondido project came online, Tesla held the distinction for its 80 MWh facility for Southern California Edison. There has also been talk of other storage projects in Australia, as well. In Brisbane, renewable energy firm Lyon group last year announced plans for a 100 MW/400 MWh battery storage system at a wind facility. Queensland's SolarQ is planning a lithium storage system of up to 4,000 MWh to be paired with a 350 MW solar facility. Those projects would beat out both Tesla and SIMEC ZEN Energy for the biggest battery storage systems in the world should they be completed.
British billionaire GuptaSanjeev Gupta is aiming to beat Elon Musk's record by building the biggest battery storage system in the world. Through his company SIMEC ZEN Energy, Sanjeev Gupta is proposing the construction of a 120 MW/140 MWh storage facility in South Australia, using an $8m loan from the state government. Tesla last year completed a 100 MW/129 MWh facility less than 100 miles from the proposed new site, at a cost of around $50m. Whilst this was constructed to help balance the grid, Sanjeev Gupta's project is being planned to power a local steel plant.