Australia needs Tesla battery to prevent summer blackouts, regulator says

Aemo chief executive calls Elon Musk's project a 'very important part of our summer plan'

The head of Australia's energy market regulator is "concerned" about avoiding blackouts next summer and says the proposed Tesla lithium ion battery in South Australia is a "very important part of our summer plan".

Speaking at an industry event in Melbourne on Tuesday, the Australian Energy Market Operator chief executive, Audrey Zibelman, said the regulator would do everything it could to ensure the project was built within the 100-day deadline set by the Tesla founder, Elon Musk, saying missing that deadline was "not really an option".