Tesla는 미국 최대 규모의 그리드급 배터리 에너지 저장 시스템(BESS) 건설을 완료했으며, xAI의 Colossus 데이터 센터에 전력을 공급한다.
Tesla has deployed 720 Megapacks at the xAI Colossus 2 data center in Memphis, creating the largest grid-side battery array currently visible in the U.S. According to satellite imagery from July 11, the energy capacity is approximately 2.8 GWh, though internal estimates place it at 3.3 GWh. Power ratings vary by Megapack model, ranging from approximately 720 MW to 1.4 GW.
The scale of the procurement is substantial and documented in public filings. Tesla's annual report states it will sell approximately $430 million worth of energy storage products to xAI in 2025, representing about 3.4% of that year's energy business revenue (against total energy business revenue of $12.8 billion). After SpaceX acquired xAI in February 2026, procurement continued: the parent company purchased approximately $405 million worth of Megapacks in the first half of 2026. IPO-related disclosures indicate that from January to April, SpaceX purchases of Tesla products and services totaled about $303 million, with Megapacks accounting for approximately $269 million. Between 2024 and 2026, combined investment in Tesla products from both entities is expected to reach about $1 billion, with approximately $700 million tied to Megapacks.
The site previously relied on temporary natural gas turbines to bridge grid connection gaps. The first phase of Colossus went online in July 2024, expanding grid access from approximately 8 MW to 150 MW. At peak operation, dozens of turbines occupied the site—causing nitrogen oxide emissions that triggered lawsuits from neighbors and civil rights organizations. Some units were subsequently relocated to Southaven, Mississippi, and operated under portable equipment regulations.
The batteries serve a dual purpose: charging during off-peak hours and discharging during peak demand, thereby reducing dependence on emergency power generation. The Tennessee Valley Authority board approved direct grid interconnection for Colossus 2 in August. Doug McGowan, head of Memphis Light, Gas and Water, described it as a world-class grid-connected battery with approximately 2 GW of backup capacity for forced load shedding—a figure that doesn't fully align with satellite counts.
The development team claims the capacity is "enough to supply all of Memphis for two hours." Riley Trettel stated on August 20 that the facility has a 3.3 GWh capacity, the largest in the nation. The site is located near the Tennessee Valley Authority's approximately 780 MW Southaven combined-cycle gas plant. The land was acquired for about $80 million and is planned to accommodate hundreds of thousands of GPUs.
Power research institutions project that data center electricity consumption could represent approximately 17% of U.S. electricity by 2030. The queue for grid interconnection creates pressure on operators to build their own storage to expedite the process. Tesla's Texas factory began producing larger-capacity Megapack 3s in early August—after the satellite count in question—leaving room for further installations.
The arrangement reflects an internal circular procurement dynamic: xAI/SpaceX (buyer) must stabilize training loads pending and following grid approval, while Tesla's energy storage production line (seller) fulfills that need. Capital flows from the merged SpaceX balance sheet into Tesla's energy revenue, then into the containers at the Memphis site. Tesla benefits from sales that support energy growth targets; data centers benefit from batteries that help mitigate licensing pressures and community concerns. The costs fall on local residents involved in air quality lawsuits and grid users who must cede capacity during peak demand. The announcement itself was driven by simultaneous disclosure of satellite imagery and executive confirmation, rather than a new product launch.
The batteries do not resolve underlying turbine disputes. The city council continues to discuss the data center's operating moratorium and emissions framework. Organizations including the NAACP have sued over interstate portable units. The 720 containers put "America's largest" on the map, then transformed the next round of grid negotiations into a fait accompli.