Gambit Energy, a subsidiary from Elon Musk’s Tesla, is developing an energy storage solution for the Texas’ grid. Although the works on the site and company’s involvement in the project were a secret, Bloomberg confirmed the news today.
Firstly, the project contemplates the installment of a gigantic battery storage system, of more than 100 megawatts of power. Battery size would be enough to power more than 20,000 Texas’ households in a hot day of summer.
Secondly, the project is under development in Angleton, Texas, about 40 miles south of Houston. According to the news agency Aljazeera, everything was a secret, until the company’s logo appeared on a worker’s hat. Soon after, official documents helped to confirm that Tesla was indeed involved through Gambit Energy.
However, company’s executives have not responded the request for comment. But, a filing to the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission lists Gambit Energy as a Tesla subsidiary.
On the other hand, the project will be registered with ERCOT, the state’s grid operator which recently faced a storm of criticism for its handling of the winter storm and the energy crisis it provoked.
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Moreover, according to Aljazeera, Warren Lasher, senior director of system planning at ERCOT, said the project has a proposed commercial operation date of June 1.
In addition, this wouldn’t be the first renewable energy by Tesla, or by its charismatic CEO. Back in March, 2015, Musk unveiled a home battery product called, the Powerwall which powered houses with solar energy. A year later, in 2016, SolarCity came to be.
In fact, the Texas’ project wouldn’t be the first energy storage system in Tesla’s portfolio. In 2017, the company launched a battery-based storage project in South Australia; it is adjacent to a wind farm. The system has a potency of a 100 MW, and it is also the biggest battery project in the world operating right now.
Moreover, in June 2020, during a conference, Elon Musk said. “I think long-term Tesla Energy will be roughly the same size as Tesla Automotive. The energy business is collectively bigger than the automotive business.”
Finally, in the U.S. Tesla’s batteries are already connected to the U.S. grid. Particularly in Los Angeles, with a 20 MW system; and in San Francisco, where it’s building a 182 MW storage system to be operational by August this year.
