Japan’s PowerX: The World’s First “Electric Carrier”!
-Equipped with 96 large-capacity container-type batteries-
-Electric power for 24,000 households for one day at one time-
Summary report of NHK business special coverage
Movement toward a decarbonized society:
A venture company in Tokyo is developing a “world’s first” ship that carries something.
We interviewed a state-of-the-art ship packed with the latest technology.
International Maritime Exhibition “BARI-SHIP”:
It was held in May this year in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, which is known as a shipbuilding town.
More than 350 companies in the maritime industry exhibited and had business talks on the latest technology.
Among them, there was one ship that attracted a lot of attention.
The world’s first “electric carrier”:
The world’s first electric carrier, with a total length of 140 meters.
Electricity is stored in 96 large-capacity container-type batteries and carried.
It can carry 240 megawatt hours at one time. This is enough electricity for 24,000 households in one day.
PowerX President Masahiro Ito:
It is being developed by Tokyo-based venture company PowerX.
Founded in 2021, the company manufactures and sells large storage batteries.
It carries mainly electricity generated from renewable energy.
Zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050:
The government will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
The trump card is offshore wind power generation.
In Japan, where there are many earthquakes and the sea floor is deep, the cost of laying cables is high.
For this reason, it is more efficient to use ships to transport electricity.
Electric transportation from Hokkaido to Honshu:
Hokkaido is suitable for wind power generation.
It will generate 60 GW in 2050. However, only 7 gigawatts of power can be transmitted to Honshu through the power grid.
Electricity can be used without waste by storing surplus electricity in Hokkaido on a ship and transporting it to Honshu.
On the other hand, the safety of transporting large-capacity batteries by sea is an issue.
Practical use of electric carriers:
To prove that it is safe to put a large number of batteries on a ship and enter and leave the port.
Must be certified by a professional body.
PowerX measures:
We will introduce a system that can deal with problems such as batteries generating abnormal heat or electrolyte leaks during transportation. We are already preparing for certification.
Built at Imabari Shipbuilding’s factory:
The electric carrier will be built at Imabari Shipbuilding’s factory, and the batteries will be manufactured at the company’s own factory in Okayama Prefecture.
The first ship will be completed in 2025, and we are also looking at business in Southeast Asia and other areas.
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