SA urged to look at 'exciting' Tesla pitch

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says South Australia should accept a proposal from Tesla chief Elon Musk to solve the state's energy crisis.

Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young

SA's government is being urged to consider a proposal by Elon Musk to solve its energy crisis. (AAP)

The South Australian government is being urged to consider a proposal by Tesla chief Elon Musk to solve its energy crisis, with a Greens senator saying the state has nothing to lose.

Mr Musk pledged on Twitter to install the batteries needed to prevent ongoing blackouts in South Australia and have the situation fixed within 100 days, or "it is free".

Australian billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes has accepted the deal, asking for seven days to sort out politics and funding.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says she is in talks with those involved in the proposal, and believes battery technology would be the game-changer South Australia needs to solve its energy woes.

"He has thrown down the gauntlet here - I can't see what there is to lose," she told ABC TV on Saturday.

"I think it is a very, very exciting prospect and I've been on the phone and on the emails this morning, trying to work out how we can deliver that here in South Australia."

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has confirmed on Twitter he's looking at the proposal.

"Already reached out looking forward to our discussion," he wrote.

Senator Hanson-Young said the technology would allow the state to bank renewable energy during the day, for use at night.

The reason it hasn't already been used is because market rules make battery storage options uncompetitive, she said.

"We need to get those rules changed," Senator Hanson-Young said.

"If we can find the political will to do that, if people really want to fix the energy crisis, they want to reduce people's power bills, fixing those rules, letting batteries play a huge role will significantly go to solving this problem."

Mr Musk says he spoke with Mr Weatherill about the proposal on Saturday.

"Very impressed. Govt is clearly committed to a smart, quick solution," he wrote on Twitter.


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2 min read
Published 11 March 2017 5:14pm
Source: AAP


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