Inspenet, June 9, 2023
Japan-based clean energy startup, PowerX , unveiled the first detailed ‘Battery Tanker’ design at the Bariship International Maritime Expo held in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The inaugural ‘X’ ship is targeting completion in 2025, with national and international field trials planned to begin in 2026.
The first Battery Tanker X is 140 meters long and will be equipped with 96 containerized marine batteries, providing a total capacity of 241MWh. The onboard battery system is based on the company’s proprietary module design, which features safe and reliable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells that are guaranteed to last over 6,000 cycles.
In addition, the battery system includes dedicated gas emission control and fire extinguishing mechanisms to ensure safety. Real-time monitoring of the battery system, charge controllers, and power conversion systems further enhance safety measures.
PowerX marks a milestone with Battery Tanker ‘X’: the first renewable energy shipping
The battery system is highly scalable, allowing the installation of additional batteries to create larger electric transport vessels, such as the 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.
According to PowerX, all batteries will be manufactured in-house in Okayama Prefecture and are expected to receive international ship rating certifications and applicable standards such as DNV and NK Class, and will undergo rigorous testing to meet the most stringent conditions. Delivery of the batteries is scheduled to begin in mid-2024.
On-board battery systems allow tankers to store and transport surplus electricity generated from renewable sources. Decommissioned or inactive thermal power plants located near ports can be converted into loading/unloading points for battery tankers, where power is transmitted to users via onshore grid connections, thereby enables more effective use of renewable energy. The ship offers a cruising range of up to 300 kilometers.
An Unprecedented Technological Breakthrough: PowerX Battery Tanker ‘X’ Details
Areas with high potential for renewable energy generation are often distant from urban areas and other regions with high energy demand. Given the current power density of lithium-ion battery cells, the Battery Tanker is an optimal solution for short distance shore-to-shore maritime power transmission, complementing existing interregional grid transmission lines.
As the power density of batteries improves and their cost decreases, longer distance maritime transmission from offshore wind power plants to land is expected to become feasible. Battery tankers offer an effective solution, especially in Japan, which is prone to earthquakes and has a deep-water environment.
The ship-based solution solves problems such as long downtime due to undersea cable failures and repairs, and high costs associated with substations and ultra-high-voltage connections.
As a result, battery tankers will enable the installation of offshore wind farms in areas where deployment of submarine cables was once a challenge. The use of maritime power transmission via tankers can address various challenges associated with offshore wind power in Japan and contribute to the widespread adoption of renewable energy around the world.
Source : https://avatarenergia.com/primer-buque-cisterna-de-baterias-del-mundo-x/
Photos: PowerX
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