Elon Musk's Tesla plans to give thousands of homes batteries: here's how it would work

South Australia's Labor Premier Jay Weatherill has unveiled what he expects to be a vote-winning power policy before the March state election — 'free' solar panels and Tesla batteries for 50,000 homes.

Jay Weatherill and Elon Musk are changing SA's approach to power generation.

And it's all thanks to the guy on the right. Yep, it's the latest gift in the ongoing bromance between Mr Weatherill and billionaire Tesla boss Elon Musk, after the pair teamed up to help fund the world's biggest lithium-ion battery (which is already producing power in the South Australian grid).

"Free?" I hear you ask. They say nothing is certain but death and taxes.

This deal will involve some of the latter (a $2 million taxpayer-funded grant and $30 million loan to Tesla), plus a significant catch — the power generated by the solar panels and the batteries will not be owned directly by the households, but may well be sold back to them via a retailer.

Read Nick Hamsen’s story from ABC News - “Elon Musk's Tesla plans to give thousands of homes batteries: here's how it would work.”

Elon Musk's Tesla and SA Labor reach deal to give solar panels and batteries to 50,000 homes

At least 50,000 homes in SA will be given solar panels and batteries in a scheme by Elon Musk's Tesla and the SA Government to build the world's largest virtual power plant, slashing household power bills in the process.

Elon Musk and Jay Weatherill reach a deal to give
 batteries and solar panels to 50,000 homes.

Under the deal unveiled by Premier Jay Weatherill ahead of the March state election, solar systems and batteries will be supplied and installed free of charge.

The cost of the project will be financed through the sale of electricity, generated by the panels, in what Mr Weatherill said would be the largest project of its kind.

Read the ABC News story by Nick Hansen - “Elon Musk's Tesla and SA Labor reach deal to give solar panels and batteries to 50,000 homes.”