Tesla powers an entire island with solar energy and battery storage

Just days after Tesla announced acquisition of SolarCity, it didn’t waste any time to make another announcement of that it just powered an entire island.

The company ran a solar energy micro-grid on American Samoa’s Ta’u Island using over 5,328 solar panels and 60 Tesla Powerpacks. The entire system, at 1.4 megawatts, that offers 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage, can collect solar power and store it for up to 3 days. 
It took the entire island one year to complete the switch over to solar power, which should be enough to keep them powered 24/7.

The Island of Ta’u with its paradise-like weather and a population of fewer than 600 residents with relatively modest power needs, was previously powered using diesel fuel generator, that burns 300 gallons of fuel per day, which is neither eco-friendly nor cheap.

So this switch is a much welcomed eco-alternative.

Although Tesla considers this project a small test, it has demonstrated the possibilities and feasibility of micro-grids in a much larger way.