Japanese battery start-up PowerX Inc unveiled the detailed design of its battery tanker at the Bariship International Maritime Exhibition, held in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan

The inaugural ship, a 140-m Power Ark 100 called Battery Tanker X, will transport electricity by energy storage systems.

PowerX chief engineer Deepak Raut said the ship will be equipped with 96 containerised marine batteries, providing a total capacity of about 240 MWh. 

The onboard battery system is based on a proprietary module design featuring lithium iron phosphate battery cells that ensure a lifespan of more than 6,000 cycles. According to PowerX, the battery system can be scaled to allow for additional batteries to be installed to create larger electric transport vessels. Dedicated gas emissions control and fire suppression mechanisms will ensure safety on board. Real-time monitoring of the battery system, charging controllers and power conversion systems further enhance safety measures. 

All batteries will be manufactured inhouse in the 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.

In Q3 this year, a new company Ocean Power Grid Inc will be established to advance the maritime power transmission business utilising battery tankers. This company will own, sell and operate the battery tankers in Japan and abroad.

Battery Tanker X aims for completion by 2025, with domestic and international field testing scheduled to commence in 2026. Onboard battery systems will allow the tankers to store and transport surplus electricity generated from renewable sources. Decommissioned or idle thermal power plants located near ports can be retrofitted into charge and 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.

As areas with high potential for renewable energy generation are often distant from urban areas and regions with high power demand, it becomes vital to strengthen transmission infrastructure.

PowerX director and chief executive Masahiro Ito believes the energy density of lithium-ion battery cells makes battery tankers feasible for short-distance maritime power transmission from land to land, complementing existing inter-regional grid transmission lines. 

The company cited the example of a tanker carrying 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.

Mr Ito added as battery densities increase and the cost of batteries decrease, more energy can be transported across longer distances. Battery deliveries are scheduled to commence mid-2024. 

The company has signed a memorandum of understanding and an agreement with Kyushu Electric Power Co Ltd and the city of Yokohama to pursue the idea. PowerX intends to take the idea beyond Japan and is now seeking business partners worldwide for this new technology and for further business opportunities.

Source: Riviera