This electric tanker will transport clean energy with 96 batteries

As the world moves towards a sustainable future, some regions have an abundance of renewable energy, while others are at a geographic disadvantage. Japan-based startup PowerX has a solution with the world’s first electric battery tanker, the “X,” designed to transport clean energy at sea.

What does PowerX do?

PowerX is a battery startup company on a mission to change how the world uses and transfers clean energy.

While most of the world’s energy today is transferred in the form of fossil fuels, PowerX looks to the future with an electrically powered ship that will transport clean energy to places that need it most.

To achieve its mission, PowerX designs and develops a “power transfer ship” to transport renewable electricity around the world and establish a “sea power grid.”

The startup revealed plans last summer to establish its first gigafactory in Japan to produce battery storage solutions, including the Hypercharger, an ultra-fast EV charger (up to 240kW) powered by renewable energy. In addition, PowerX will produce grid-scale stationary batteries, marine batteries and home batteries.

Power Base, the company’s gigafactory, has an annual production capacity of 5 GWh, corresponding to around 10,000 battery storage units for its various solutions.

Moving quickly, PowerX revealed the detailed design behind its first ship, the “X”, at Monday’s Bariship International Maritime Exhibition.

The electric tanker that will transport clean energy at sea

The 140 meter long electric battery tanker X has an electric range of up to 300 km to transport clean energy from offshore wind, from one grid to another or an island.

With 96 (2.5 MWh) LFP batteries of marine quality, the electric tanker can contain a total of 241 MWh of renewable energy. PowerX says the battery design is “highly scalable” and will be able to handle more batteries in the future.

An included power control system monitors the battery systems and charge controllers, showing how much battery life is left.

The electric tanker is currently optimized for short journeys. Still, CEO Masahiro Ito says as battery density increases and costs decrease, the company will be able to carry more batteries over longer distances.

The company aims to complete its first ship by 2025, with field testing scheduled to begin the following year.

PowerX signed an MoU and partnered with Kyushu Electric Power Co and the city of Yokohama to make the concept a reality and decarbonize the ports. In addition, a new company, Ocean Power Grid Inc., will be established later this year to handle the battery tank operations.

The electric tanker will help connect grids, offshore wind farms and islands with renewable energy where underground cables are not ideal due to seismic activity, deep water, etc.

As a result, regions with abundant renewable energy can share with the less fortunate for a cleaner, sustainable future for all.