Japan: PowerX introduces world’s first battery tanker ‘X’ design

PowerX, Inc. on Thursday (25 May) unveiled the detailed design of the first-ever ‘Battery Tanker’ at the ‘Bariship’ International Maritime Exhibition held in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. 

The inaugural ship “X” aims for completion by 2025, with domestic and international field testing planned to commence in 2026.

A new company named Ocean Power Grid Inc. will be established in the third quarter of 2023 to advance the maritime power transmission business utilising Battery Tankers. This company will be responsible for owning, selling, and operating the battery tankers both in Japan and abroad. 

PowerX has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a partnership agreement with Kyushu Electric Power Co., Ltd. and the City of Yokohama to pursue the novel concept of maritime power transmission and achieving carbon-neutral ports.

The first Battery Tanker “X” is scheduled for domestic and international field testing starting in 2026. The electric propulsion vessel boasts a length of 140 metres and will be equipped with 96 containerised marine batteries, providing a total capacity of 241MWh.

The onboard battery system is based on the firm’s proprietary module design, featuring safe and reliable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells that ensure a lifespan over 6,000 cycles. Additionally, the battery system is highly scalable, allowing for the installation of additional batteries to create larger electric transport vessels such as Power Ark 1000 or even larger sizes to meet specific mission requirements. 

The system includes dedicated gas emission control and fire suppression mechanisms to ensure safety. Real-time monitoring of the battery system, charging controllers, and power conversion systems further enhances safety measures. 

All batteries will be manufactured in-house in Okayama Prefecture and are scheduled to obtain international ship classification certifications and applicable standards such as DNV and Class NK, undergoing rigorous testing to meet the strictest conditions. Delivery of the batteries is scheduled to commence by mid-2024.

The Role of Battery Tankers

With its onboard battery systems, Battery Tankers can be leveraged to store and transport surplus electricity generated from renewable sources. Decommissioned or idle thermal power plants located near ports can be retrofitted into charge/discharge points for the Battery Tankers, where the power is transmitted to users via grid connections on the land, enabling further effective use of renewable energy.

Moreover, areas with high potential for renewable energy generation are often distant from urban areas and other regions with high power demand. Strengthening transmission infrastructure becomes essential in such cases. 

Given the current energy density of lithium-ion battery cells, the Battery Tanker is an optimal solution for short-distance maritime power transmission from land to land, complementing existing inter-regional grid transmission lines. For instance, in Japan, a Battery Tanker can carry power from regions with high renewable energy supply potential, such as Kyushu and Hokkaido, to high-demand areas of Honshu or for inter-island power transmission.

Photo credit: PowerX
Published: 29 May, 2023