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A ghost town with an ironic name could help energize Tesla’s future

[Photo credit: northernontario.travel]

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When you think Tesla, your typically think Fremont, California or Sparks, Nevada. But Bloomberg published a fascinating story, The Canadian Ghost Town That Tesla Is Bringing Back to Life, which reports on some important mines in North America that are addressing the “global demand for cobalt, a component in batteries used to power electric cars for automakers from Tesla Inc. to Volkswagen AG.” So where is this so-called Canadian ghost town? Ironically, it’s called Cobalt, Ontario and it only has a population 1,100.

Above: Cobalt has a long history of mining silver but that’s changing as Cobalt is fast-becoming a hotspot for its namesake, cobalt (Image: Camp Scout)

Although cobalt is critical to lithium-ion batteries, it’s been the subject of some controversy. A report from Amnesty International published concerns over cobalt being a conflict mineral when sourced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The report takes issue with, “several automakers like Mercedes, VW and BYD, as well as several battery manufacturers known to supply automakers, like LG Chem” who supply EV batteries for GM and Nissan.

That said, Tesla was spared: “the company [Tesla] is not named in the report because its main battery cell supplier, Panasonic, sources its cobalt from the Philippines and not Congo.” Now, it appears (via Bloomberg) that Tesla also has access to cobalt in Canada. “Call it a cobalt rush in Cobalt… both the town and the metal, are attracting renewed attention as a buffer to rising political risks in the Democratic Republic of Congo”

Above: The Economist reports on electric vehicles, batteries, and concerns surrounding cobalt mined in the DRC (Youtube: The Economist)

Roger Bell, director of mining research at Hannam & Parters in London explains, “Anybody who has cobalt outside the DRC is in a better situation because carmakers are very worried about their supply chains.” And Bell believes the amount of cobalt being used in electric cars could easily double in the next eight to 15 years.

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Tina Sartoretto is mayor of Cobalt, Ontario. It’s reported that she’s, “hoping the renewed demand for cobalt will inject some economic life into her impoverished town. With no industrial base to speak of, the town struggles to survive on legacy endowments from past silver and cobalt miners.”

Above: Cobalt is a key ingredient in Tesla’s batteries (Image: Energy and Capital)

But it turns out the future’s looking bright for Cobalt, Ontario. Gino Chitaroni, a local prospector and geologist explains, “This area’s seen more airborne surveys in the last year than in the last hundred… Two years ago, if you had a cobalt property you couldn’t give it away. All of a sudden, within six months, everything changed.”

Chitaroni is quick to showcase Cobalt’s advantages over mining locales in the DRC. In addition to steering clear of the DRC controversy, he says mining in Canada’s Cobalt boasts easy access to power, hydro, and expertise. “We call it Tim Hortons’s exploration,” Chitaroni says referring to the convenience of Canada’s popular donut-and-coffee chain. “If you’ve got a breakdown, in half an hour, I’ve got parts. Try doing that in the Congo.”

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Note: Article originally published on evannex.com, by Matt Pressman

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Source: Bloomberg

Energy

Tesla recalls Powerwall 2 units in Australia

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(Credit: nathanwoodgc /Instagram)

Tesla will recall Powerwall 2 units in Australia after a handful of property owners reported fires that caused “minor property damage.” The fires were attributed to cells used by Tesla in the Powerwall 2.

Tesla Powerwall is a battery storage unit that retains energy from solar panels and is used by homeowners and businesses to maintain power in the event of an outage. It also helps alleviate the need to rely on the grid, which can help stabilize power locally.

Powerwall owners can also enroll in the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program, which allows them to sell energy back to the grid, helping to reduce energy bills. Tesla revealed last year that over 100,000 Powerwalls were participating in the program.

Tesla announces 100k Powerwalls are participating in Virtual Power Plants

The Australia Competition and Consumer Commission said in a filing that it received several reports from owners of fires that led to minor damage. The Australian government agency did not disclose the number of units impacted by the recall.

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The issue is related to the cells, which Tesla sources from a third-party company.

Anyone whose Powerwall 2 unit is impacted by the recall will be notified through the Tesla app, the company said.

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Energy

Tesla’s new Megablock system can power 400,000 homes in under a month

Tesla also unveiled the Megapack 3, the latest iteration of its flagship utility scale battery.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has unveiled the Megablock and Megapack 3, the latest additions to its industrial-scale battery storage solution lineup. 

The products highlight Tesla Energy’s growing role in the company, as well as the division’s growing efforts to provide sustainable energy solutions for industrial-scale applications.

Megablock targets speed and scale

During the “Las Megas” event in Las Vegas, Tesla launched Megablock, a pre-engineered medium-voltage block designed to integrate Megapack 3 units in a plug-and-play system. Capable of 20 MWh AC with a 25-year life cycle and more than 10,000 cycles, the Megablock could achieve 91% round-trip efficiency at medium voltage, inclusive of auxiliary loads.

Tesla emphasized that Megablock can be installed 23% faster with up to 40% lower construction costs. The platform eliminates above-ground cabling through a new flexible busbar assembly and delivers site-level density of 248 MWh per acre. With Megablock, Tesla is also aiming to commission 1 GWh in just 20 business days, or enough to power 400,000 homes in less than a month. 

“With Megablock, we are targeting to commission 1 GWh in 20 business days, which is the equivalent of bringing power to 400,000 homes in less than a month. It’s crazy. How are we planning to do that? Like most things at Tesla, we are ruthlessly attacking every opportunity to save our customers time, simplify the process, remove steps, (and) automate as much as we can,” the company said. 

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Megapack 3 is all about simplicity

The Megapack 3 is Tesla’s next-generation utility battery, designed with a simplified architecture that cuts 78% of connections compared to the previous version. Its thermal bay is drastically simplified, and it uses a Model Y heat pump on steroids. The battery weighs about 86,000 pounds and holds 5 MWh of usable AC energy. Tesla engineers incorporated a larger battery module and a new 2.8-liter LFP cell co-developed with the company’s cell team.

The Megapack 3 is designed for serviceability, and it features easier front access and no roof penetrations. About 75% of Megapack 3’s total mass is battery cells, with individual modules weighing as much as a Cybertruck. It’s also tough, with an ambient operating temperature range from -40C to 60C. This should allow the Megapack 3 to operate optimally from the coldest to the hottest regions on the planet.

Production is set to begin at Tesla’s Houston Megafactory in late 2026, with planned capacity of 50 GWh per year. Additional supply will come from Tesla’s 7 GWh LFP facility in Nevada, which is expected to open in 2025, as well as with third-party partners.

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Energy

Tesla Energy is the world’s top global battery storage system provider again

Tesla Energy captured 15% of the battery storage segment’s global market share in 2024.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla Energy held its top position in the global battery energy storage system (BESS) integrator market for the second consecutive year, capturing 15% of global market share in 2024, as per Wood Mackenzie’s latest rankings.

Tesla Energy’s lead, however, is shrinking, as Chinese competitors like Sungrow are steadily increasing their global footprint, particularly in European markets.

Tesla Energy dominates in North America, but its lead is narrowing globally

Tesla Energy retained its leadership in the North American market with a commanding 39% share in 2024. Sungrow, though still ranked second in the region, saw its share drop from 17% to 10%. Powin took third place, even if the company itself filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, as noted in a Solar Power World report. 

On the global stage, Tesla Energy’s lead over Sungrow shrank from four points in 2023 to just one in 2024, indicating intensifying competition. Chinese firm CRRC came in third worldwide with an 8% share.

Wood Mackenzie ranked vendors based on MWh shipments with recognized revenue in 2024. According to analyst Kevin Shang, “Competition among established BESS integrators remains incredibly intense. Seven of the top 10 vendors last year struggled to expand their market share, remaining either unchanged or declining.”

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Chinese integrators surge in Europe, falter in U.S.

China’s influence on the BESS market continues to grow, with seven of the global top 10 BESS integrators now headquartered in the country. Chinese companies saw a 67% year-over-year increase in European market share, and four of the top 10 BESS vendors in Europe are now based in China. In contrast, Chinese companies’ market share in North America dropped more than 30%, from 23% to 16% amid Tesla Energy’s momentum and the Trump administration’s policies.

Wood Mackenzie noted that success in the global BESS space will hinge on companies’ ability to adapt to divergent regulations and geopolitical headwinds. “The global BESS integrator landscape is becoming increasingly complex, with regional trade policies and geopolitical tensions reshaping competitive dynamics,” Shang noted, pointing to Tesla’s maintained lead and the rapid ascent of Chinese rivals as signs of a shifting industry balance.

“While Tesla maintains its global leadership, the rapid rise of Chinese integrators in Europe and their dominance in emerging markets like the Middle East signals a fundamental shift in the industry. Success will increasingly depend on companies’ ability to navigate diverse regulatory environments, adapt to local market requirements, and maintain competitive cost structures across multiple regions,” the analyst added.

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