The Path to a Greener Future
As the quest for a sustainable future continues, the world faces a challenge: delivering renewable energy to areas with geographical disadvantages. Enter PowerX, a Japan-based startup that has come up with the world’s first electric battery tanker, ingeniously named “X.” This innovative vessel is designed to transport clean energy across oceans, providing an eco-friendly solution for global energy transfer needs.
The Visionary Minds Behind PowerX
PowerX is a battery startup aiming to revolutionize how the world utilizes and distributes clean energy. In a time when most energy is still transferred using fossil fuels, PowerX is venturing into the future with an electric-powered ship capable of delivering green energy to the areas that need it most.
To realize this goal, the company is designing and developing a “power transfer ship” to transport renewable electricity across the globe, effectively establishing an “ocean power grid.” Last summer, PowerX announced its intention to set up its first gigafactory in Japan. This facility would produce battery storage solutions, including the Hypercharger, an ultrafast EV charger (up to 240kW) powered by renewable energy. Additionally, the company plans to manufacture grid-scale stationary batteries, marine batteries, and home batteries.
Boasting a 5 GWh annual production capacity, Power Base, the company’s gigafactory, is expected to produce about 10,000 battery storage units for its range of solutions.
Introducing the Electric Battery Tanker “X”
At the recent Bariship International Maritime Exhibition, PowerX lifted the veil on its revolutionary flagship vessel, the electric battery tanker X. This 140-meter-long behemoth has an electric cruising range of up to 300km. Its purpose? To transport clean energy from sources like offshore wind farms to different energy grids or even islands.
A Glimpse into the Tanker’s Core
Equipped with 96 (2.5 MWh) marine-grade LFP batteries, the electric tanker can store an impressive 241 MWh of renewable energy. PowerX highlights the battery design’s “highly scalable” nature, enabling it to accommodate more batteries in the future.
The vessel also includes a power control system that oversees battery systems and charge controllers, constantly relaying the remaining battery life.
A Visionary Expansion and Collaboration
Currently, the electric tanker is best suited for short-distance travel. However, CEO Masahiro Ito states that the company can transport more batteries over longer distances as battery density increases and costs decrease.
PowerX’s ambitious plan is to complete its first ship by 2025. Field testing is scheduled to commence in 2026. Additionally, PowerX has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and forged partnerships with Kyushu Electric Power Co and the City of Yokohama to turn this innovative concept into reality and decarbonize the ports. Furthermore, a new company, Ocean Power Grid Inc., will be established later this year to manage the battery tanker operations exclusively.
A Brighter, Greener Horizon
Thanks to the electric tanker, regions abundant in renewable energy can share their resources with those less fortunate. This groundbreaking solution will help connect different energy grids, offshore wind farms, and islands where underground cables may not be feasible due to earthquakes, deep water, or other factors. PowerX’s pioneering approach lays the groundwork for a cleaner, more sustainable future for everyone.
