[toomuchtodo]

Batteries installed on concrete slabs are easier and cheaper, there are only so many places pumped hydro is feasible.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40919052

[0cf8612b2e1e]

Batteries can also be installed basically instantly, with storage being added incrementally. Unlike a years long project of constructing a hydro battery before it enters operation.

[dzhiurgis]

NZ recently scraped Lake Onslow seasonal hydro storage. My estimate it was about 100x cheaper per kWh when compared with Powerwall.

[toomuchtodo]

Can you provide background and/or context as to how and why this decision was made?

[dzhiurgis]

New government (that Elon Musk himself congratulated) has terminated tons of projects and rolled back some laws:

- Removed EV subsidy

- Scrapped Lake Onslow seasonal pumped hydro storage

- Removed generational smoking ban (made it to 18yo like most countries)

- Gave 50% discount to heated tobacco products (aka IQOS)

- Gave a tip whose projects will be fast tracked

- Reduced housing insulation minimums

- Terminated new inter-island ferry project to replace aging ferries (tbh this one was getting out of proportion)

- Reintroduced tax interest write-off for landlords who rent their houses

- Removed free school launches for poorest country schools

Their goal was to end government spending, but giving $2b+ to countries richest people seems opposite.

And to give them credit here's couple of good things that will definitely help property market:

- Ability to import abroad-certified building supplies (atm there's a building supply monomopoly)

- Ability to build up 60sqm backyard homes without consent

- Densification plans

[toomuchtodo]

Oof. Good luck over there.