Elon Musk warns Australia on its energy supply problemsTECH billionaire Elon Musk says Australia needs to fix this problem urgently, or risk being plunged into “the dark ages”.James MacSmith | News Corp Australia Network | OCTOBER 29, 2017 | 2:04PM
http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/elon-musk-warns-australia-on-its-energy-supply-problems/news-story/c504c6102b70dc35a94a2c2a820dc22cBILLIONAIRE Elon Musk can’t believe the mess Australia finds itself in with regard to its power supply problems.
In July, the Telsa boss agreed to build the world’s largest lithium ion battery in order to secure South Australia’s power supply in the wake of a statewide blackout.
But the Space X CEO had no idea of the firestorm of how to power Australia, he had walked into.
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Elon Musk can’t believe the extent of Australia’as energy problems. Picture: Channel NineSource:SuppliedThe acclaimed inventor said he was also hurt by the Federal Government’s criticism of his battery plans for South Australia. Treasurer Scott Morrison, for one, compared the idea to Australia’s tourist attractions such as the Big Prawn and the Big Banana.
“We get that (criticism) all the time,” Mr Musk said. “It can be a little disheartening.”
Mr Musk was stunned when told by 60 Minutes presenter Liz Hayes about the cost of electricity in Australia and the fight to keep rising costs under control.
When Hayes said people were opting not to use electricity at all to save money, Mr Musk replied: “Wow. Really? I didn’t realise it was that expensive to go the fossil fuel route.
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“It’s a definition that if it’s not renewable, it’s going to run out at some point.
“And we will have the choice of the collapse of civilisation and into the dark ages we go or we find something renewable.”
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Under the July agreement between Mr Musk and the SA State Government, if the battery is not delivered by Tesla within 100 days of the grid interconnection agreement being signed, it will be free.
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