Japanese ship energy storage

Development has begun in Japan of a marine battery storage vessel that would be charged at sea from offshore wind and then carry the power back to land. Startup PowerX has come up with the concept of the Power ARK, a so-called ‘power transfer vessel’.

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6 FAQs about [Japanese ship energy storage]

What is a 'power transfer vessel'?

A Japanese firm has set out to shake up energy storage and transmission with a freshly launched “power transfer vessel” concept that is designed to carry electricity from offshore wind farms to shore. The company’s first electric ship model, which will have an energy storage capacity of 200 MWh, is slated for completion in 2025.

How much energy does Japan need?

Japan, an island nation, currently depends on imported fossil fuel for 86% of its energy needs, he noted. However, the country wants to generate 36-38% of its power from renewables by 2030. This will require ramping up its offshore wind capacity from the current 20 MW to 10 GW within the next decade.

Will powerx build a ship with a marine battery?

However, PowerX’s current manufacturing priority is “obviously the marine battery like we need to build our power transfer ship, so a 3,000 kWh very large marine battery that is container friendly so you can pop them on a boat, stack them, connect them to the ship’s operating system, and be very safe,” Ito said.

Where can wind power be used in Japan?

One specific area he highlighted for potential application in Japan is to supplement the grids between the wind-rich but remote Hokkaido region in the north, Tohuku in the northeast, and the Tokyo area on the east-central coast, where Japan’s power demand is highest.

Can a battery tanker transport excess electricity?

To enable such transport, a detailed design of the first-ever 'Battery Tanker,' christened ship X was released by the firm, aiming for completion by 2025. The firm believes that such Battery Tankers can store and transport excess electricity produced from renewable sources.

Are taiga and Asuka electric propulsion ships?

Taiga and Asuka are series hybrid electric propulsion ships that do not use diesel engines for drive power. In addition, they adopted a full-scale DC grid system, which is different from the AC grid or AC synchronous generator system for conventional electric propulsion ships.