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Elon Musk Says Tesla Will Build Shanghai Battery Factory
On Sunday, Elon Musk announced on Twitter that Tesla, the electric vehicle and clean energy company, plans to build a factory in Shanghai to produce 10,000 Megapacks annually for electric producers and distributors. The announcement has been met with excitement from renewable energy advocates, as the Megapacks have the potential to revolutionize the way we store and use electricity.
What Are Megapacks and How Do They Work?
Megapacks are large-scale batteries designed to store electricity for later use. According to Tesla, a single Megapack can power 3,600 homes for one hour. The Megapacks are roughly the size of a shipping container and can discharge electricity to run factories or homes when demand from the local power grid is high or during a blackout.
The Importance of Energy Storage for Renewable Energy
As electric utilities move toward wind and solar energy to replace power generated by fossil fuels, the need for energy storage has become increasingly important. Unlike traditional power plants, which can generate electricity whenever it is needed, wind and solar power are intermittent sources of energy that depend on weather conditions. This means that energy must be stored when it is available and used…
