Australia is generating too much solar power

Can there be such a thing as too much sun? According to Australia, yes. With over 650,000 solar-paneled homes, the country is now struggling with a surplus of solar energy—so much so that people are getting taxed for it. The unlikely solution? A bet between Elon Musk and Mike Cannon-Brookes.

After devastating storms put strain on Australia’s power infrastructure, the government was keen to focus their efforts on expanding coal-fueled energy sources, instead of switching to renewable energy sources. Elon Musk tweeted that he could find a solution to Australia’s problem in only 100 days. Seeing the tweet, Mike Cannon-Brookes offered to fund the project—that is, if Elon’s words weren’t just an empty boast. Elon took him up on his bet, vowing to install the system for free if he fails to fulfill his promise.

In the end, the Tesla 100 watt Lithium-ion battery was installed at the Hornsdale Power Reserve, well within the promised 100 days. With a capacity of 129 megawatt hours, it was the largest lithium-ion battery in the world at the time. It was so effective that several companies have started investing in power storage development as well. Soon, consumers might be able to store their own energy instead of relying on the country’s power grid.

With governments offering incentives to shift to renewable energy and the allure of living independently of a centralized power grid, solar power has never been more tempting. Could a solar revolution be close at hand?