As Tesla prepares for its long-awaited Model 3 launch, the company is also investing more in its renewable-energy division.Tesla has had an energy division committed to selling its at-home battery, the Powerwall, and commercial battery pack, the Powerpack since 2015. But after acquiring SolarCity in a deal worth $2.1 billion in November, Tesla has doubled down on its renewable energy efforts.The company released upgraded versions of both the Powerwall and Powerpack and also unveiled its solar roof product. Tesla is on track to begin producing and installing its solar roof during the second half of this year.Meanwhile, the company is considering building up to three more battery facilities. Tesla's first battery plant, the Gigafactory, is located in Sparks, Nevada and is slated to operate at full capacity in 2018.While Tesla ramps up its battery and solar division, the company already has300 megawatt-hours worth of batteries deployed in 18 countries. Here's a look at some of the biggest projects ' from resorts to entire islands ' that are currently using Tesla's Powerpacks to help keep the lights on:SEE ALSO:Tesla is rolling out its new Autopilot system this week ' here's everything you need to knowTesla is helping power a luxury lodge located sitting on the outskirts of Kruger National Park in South Africa.The luxury resort, Singita Lodge, privately owns 33,000 acres of land in Kurger National Park, which is home to buffalo, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and more. The resort itself has on-site solar panels running on Tesla's3,150 kilowatt-hours Powerpack system.Singita Lodge practices ecotourism, though it's certainly a pricier form.According to Travel + Leisure, the resort has 15 loft suites, spa, fitness center, smoothie and espresso bar, and gym. A villa costs 17,9025 rand ($13,285) a night.The resort says team members lead conservation efforts like therehabilitation and maintenance of land, wildlife monitoring, and fencing security to initiate anti-poaching methods.Tesla is also powering another luxury resort on Malolo Island, a volcanic island in Fiji.Called Vunabaka, the resort sells properties priced as high as $2.5 million. A 2014 New Zealand Herald article said the properties were sold largely "through word of mouth" to people from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.The resort generates electricity via a 1-megawatt solar array powered by 20 Tesla Powerpacks.Tesla was selected by energy company Southern California Edison to build a 20-megawatt battery system that can power 2,500 households a day.The battery project was builtat Southern California Edison's Mira Loma substation and is the largest lithium ion battery storage project in the world. The system doesn't run on solar power, but is meant to offset the energy grid by taking charge during off-peak hours, according to the Los Angeles Times.Tesla was chosen to build the substation after theAliso Canyon natural gas reservoir suffered a massive rupture in 2015 that displaced more than 8,000 California residents. Los Angeles wanted an electric energy solution that could be more reliable during peak times.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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