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chrisdh79 OP t1_ira3yx5 wrote

From the article: Tesla's Megapack battery system is stepping in to fulfill the state’s power requirements, following the end of a 30-year deal on September 1 between Hawaiian Electric and AES Corporation to provide coal power (via Hawaiian Electric).

As an alternative to the energy gap left behind by the coal power plant, Plus Power LLC is using Tesla Megapacks to build a large battery energy storage system (BESS) in the state of Hawaii.

This sustainable energy project is named Kapolei Energy Storage (KES). KES is one of the world’s largest battery energy storage systems, featuring a capacity of 565 MWh. It will be charged using a 156 MW solar energy farm.

State-owned Hawaiian Electric estimates the completion of the KES project in the first half of 2023. According to the state’s electricity supply company, 9 BESS projects are scheduled to go live by 2024 on the island of Oahu alone (FAQ PDF by Hawaiian Electric).

“Last coal shipment arrived in Hawaii at the same time as Tesla Megapack batteries that will enable 24/7 sustainable energy,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a recent tweet.

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amazing_webhead t1_irb79e0 wrote

And I'm sure Fox News is all ready to blame this for every single problem that Hawaii has from here on out

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wisdom_possibly t1_ird2by7 wrote

The real news isn't battery packs. The real news is that Hawaii is now generating enough green energy to require energy storage. Via google: "Hawaii has the highest share of petroleum use in the United States, with about 62% of electricity coming from oil in 2017".

We all should know that battery packs do jack squat for climate change if all the energy is fossil-fuel generated. Hawaii is sorely behind in this regard. I would prefer an article about Hawaii's growth in green energy and ongoing projects we have (eg tidal generation).

But "Tesla" gets the clicks. You can't expect too much from InsideEVs.com I guess. Maybe it's a paid article. /tinfoil

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[deleted] t1_iraaji4 wrote

[removed]

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pts87 t1_irapzov wrote

Looking forward to reading all of the Reddit scientists (google educated) opinion on this. I am just a forklift operator.

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Gernafax t1_irbbx3i wrote

Google offers education?? Imma go get my degree!!

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tranding t1_iraupfg wrote

What is still strange to me is that coal was preferred to geothermal power due to religious reasons

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JungleBoyJeremy t1_iraw6kp wrote

Geothermal is only possible on one of the islands. They do not all have active volcanos.

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tranding t1_irawjgi wrote

Possible geothermal energy resources may exist in West Hawaii and on the island of Maui. - source: Hawaiian electric. Hawaii Island purchases 38 MW of power from the Puna Geothermal Venture plant. PGV has permits allowing it to expand another 22 MW in the future at its current location.

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JungleBoyJeremy t1_iraxi6d wrote

So it’s currently still only possible on big island, and MAY be possible on Maui.

It’s definitely not possible on Oahu where these batteries are being set up

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tranding t1_irazfkv wrote

It is possible especially with an interisland cable which has been studied since the 1970s.

What types of renewable energy could an interisland cable deliver? Geothermal Hydropower Solar Wind Bioenergy

Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) issued a 335-page Request for Proposal for Geothermal/Interisland Transmission Project on May 1, 1989 to install up to 500MW of geothermal energy in Puna and to send the energy to O`ahu.

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One-Inch-Punch t1_irchjp5 wrote

Such a cable would have to traverse some complex seafloor topography and sensitive marine sanctuaries to get here from there. Other renewable projects, like offshore wind on the Penguin Banks, have run afoul of the same complications.

Religion aside, geothermal on an active volcano carries some other risks. PGV was lucky to only lose three wells and a substation in the 2018 eruption.

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JungleBoyJeremy t1_irb0mff wrote

And yet the cable was never built. So once again geothermal has never been an option on Oahu

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geroldf t1_ircm0x4 wrote

Solar and wind are the obvious solutions for power in Hawaii.

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Leprechan_Sushi t1_ircyz08 wrote

Except the one island with the volcano on it. There geothermal is probably quite good.

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FuturologyBot t1_ira908h wrote

The following submission statement was provided by /u/chrisdh79:


From the article: Tesla's Megapack battery system is stepping in to fulfill the state’s power requirements, following the end of a 30-year deal on September 1 between Hawaiian Electric and AES Corporation to provide coal power (via Hawaiian Electric).

As an alternative to the energy gap left behind by the coal power plant, Plus Power LLC is using Tesla Megapacks to build a large battery energy storage system (BESS) in the state of Hawaii.

This sustainable energy project is named Kapolei Energy Storage (KES). KES is one of the world’s largest battery energy storage systems, featuring a capacity of 565 MWh. It will be charged using a 156 MW solar energy farm.

State-owned Hawaiian Electric estimates the completion of the KES project in the first half of 2023. According to the state’s electricity supply company, 9 BESS projects are scheduled to go live by 2024 on the island of Oahu alone (FAQ PDF by Hawaiian Electric).

“Last coal shipment arrived in Hawaii at the same time as Tesla Megapack batteries that will enable 24/7 sustainable energy,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a recent tweet.


Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/xx5q6s/tesla_megapacks_arrive_in_hawaii_kicking_coal_to/ira3yx5/

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awfullotofocelots t1_irai9ln wrote

Panasonic makes the batteries, Tesla basically just the landlord and as the sales company they decide how many batteries need to go in EVs vs powerpacks.

Tesla and Panasonics joint statement: https://www.tesla.com/blog/panasonic-and-tesla-sign-agreement-gigafactory

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Vecii t1_irbd4f1 wrote

Tesla buys the cells, but there is a lot more to a Megapack than just cells. They buy parts from many different manufacturers and assemble them into their final product, just like most other companies.

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ElectrikDonuts t1_irbqr8h wrote

Uh sure, then why doesn’t Panasonic just sell directly? If you think that’s crazy you should take a look at the components in your phone and car that arent made by the brand of phone or car you buy…

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DonQuixBalls t1_irdijl9 wrote

MegaPacks are not manufactured in Nevada. They have a factory in California that opened this year.

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ilde86 t1_irah6sc wrote

I feel like the mega packs are fire hazard there should use flow batteries

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GeminiKoil t1_irb5pjc wrote

I've heard they catch fire sometimes. What's the cause? I'm sure they are working to resolve this.

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The_Vegan_Chef t1_irap5ye wrote

Good work Tosiba! I guess rewrapping the battery packs makes this about tesla. Cool

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MilkshakeBoy78 t1_iraq5qk wrote

its tesla megapack not panasonic megapack

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The_Vegan_Chef t1_irb10zu wrote

Oh ya could be. I just know that they've basically been sourcing from a variety of other companies and just wrapping them, taking grants and founding and pretending they are some magical battery.

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Sockbottom69 t1_irbczit wrote

They’re not magical because they store power, that’s just what batteries do. Is there a claim that they can do something magical? Or do you believe that’s witch craft of some sort?

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The_Vegan_Chef t1_irbh3is wrote

Yes I believe batteries are magical... and that they come from a parallel world where they are actually an equivalent of that earths mushroom. Or rather a mushroom plant hybrid used by that worlds most developed sentient race... gtfo

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Sockbottom69 t1_irbilnf wrote

What are they saying about them when you say they’re “pretending they’re magical”?

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The_Vegan_Chef t1_irbop6x wrote

Wow. Syntax.

Just go back to sucking that Elon popsicle. Your comment chain looks like you'd like to work as a bot for Musk but why would he give you the job when you are doing it for free?

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Sockbottom69 t1_ird2t5y wrote

I just ask idiots like you questions on threads like these. Hard not too with dumb comments like yours

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The_Vegan_Chef t1_irdzq7k wrote

"I just ask questions". Hilarious. You are silly puppet account. With 2 extra accounts for downvotes. And again the syntax really makes me thing you're a badly trained bot. Bad bot. Sit.

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Sockbottom69 t1_irei8oq wrote

You’re the one that sounds Russian lmao. “You are silly puppet account”

You said Tesla pretends their batteries are magical, I said how? You have no answer so you start claiming I’m a bot.

There’s nothing really more to say.

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The_Vegan_Chef t1_irkcn7g wrote

Russian? Is that the only puppet you've been programmed to understand? That's not even in context lol. This is what happens when shitty programmers use open source python methods and try to add a little machine code. Back to bed bot.

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aufshtes t1_irb2mib wrote

More goes into a battery system then just the cells. Power/thermal management, packaging etc are not all that easy, especially at this scale.

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Bensemus t1_is7rhjp wrote

lol. Lithium cells can't just be hooked up to the grid and work. There are tons of complex systems managing those batteries and the pack as a whole to make it work. It's like saying everything powered by a Honda engine is a Honda. All planes are either Rolls-Royce or GE as they make the engines.

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