Collaboration between Tesla and Solarcity Targets Solar Powered Island in the Next Year

Collaboration between Tesla and Solar-city Targets Solar Powered Island in the Next Year

As one of the technology companies that is claimed to have development and also a bright future, Tesla is always present with a variety of new ideas that are certainly expected to be able to become technological solutions for the community. One of them, in the project in collaboration with the Solarcity company, targets the creation of an island that will later fully use solar power as its energy source.

Although the cooperation fostered by the two companies is arguably still as long as corn, the target pegged seems quite extraordinary. With the combined resources of both, it is not impossible that all these futuristic projects can truly come true.

Taking the place of a remote island

In its plan, the company headed by Elon Musk has indeed set a target within the next 1 year to make a pilot project related to the use of renewable energy. In connection with that, Tesla began a collaboration with a company that has a focus on the use of renewable energy, namely Solarcity.

The latest plan, made its first public appearance from the official blog of the Solarcity website stating in detail the island's renewable energy development project. In the project, in general it is a combination of 2 technological patents namely Solarcity Power Generation and Tesla Powerpack Storage.

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Whereas the object of the large project is a small island called Ta'u Island in the American Samoa region. Just like a small island in general, a location located in the ocean and sunshine throughout the year, is an ideal place for a solar energy-based project.


Solving Community Energy Problems

Until now, residents on the island of Ta'u, rely on the need for energy in this case electricity through diesel. Given the distance from the center of technological development, diesel use certainly has many disadvantages. The first in terms of the use of fossil fuels, of course, has the possibility to run out in the future.

In addition, because it has to bring in fossil fuels from distant locations, in fact it also costs a lot of money. This is what causes, the island of Ta'u often has to experience conditions of energy shortages which have an impact on periodic blackouts.

From here, Tesla and Solarcity strive to provide a better alternative for providing energy. Even though from the initial development side, a substantial cost is needed, but the price is considered more effective with a longer-term calculation.



Technically, later the Ta'u Project will use a number of solar panels owned by Solarcity to capture solar energy. At least 5300 solar panels have been prepared that can produce approximately 1.4 megawatts of electricity. As for energy storage produced, storage batteries will be used developed by Tesla. With around 60 Tesla powerpacks, it is estimated that it will be able to accommodate around 6 megawatts.

The amount of energy is equivalent to a micro-scale power plant that can meet the energy needs of the full 3 days used by island residents with around 600 people. Interestingly, the process of replenishing energy only takes about 7 hours under exposure to the pulling sun.

The concept is an initial concept planned to be applied on the island of Ta'u. But if there is a need to increase power, it is possible for Tesla and Solarcity to increase the scale of existing power plants.


Regarding the implementation of the project, the developer stated that the construction will begin next year. Funded directly by several departments such as EPA, the Department of the Interior and the American Samoa Economic Development Authority, the project is expected to be completed within 1 year.

Tesla's party stated that, through the existence of the Ta'u island project, it was expected to be able to attract other potential consumers around the world. Tesla founder Elon Musk believes that the use of energy storage batteries for business-scale needs will increase in the next few years.