Japanese start-up PowerX has developed the concept of the Power ARK, a so-called 'power transfer vessel'. The vessel is positioned as an offshore battery storage vessel that will use offshore wind and solar power to recharge at sea and then bring the power back to land.

(Rendering of the PowerX Power ARK, a 'power transfer vessel')

PowerX said last week that it has entered into a partnership with shipbuilder Imabari Shipbuilding to develop a prototype by the end of 2025. The partnership between Imabari Shipbuilding, one of the two largest shipbuilding companies in Japan, came into effect on 2 December. It is understood that Imabari has invested 1 billion yen (US$8.86 million) in PowerX.

According to the Japan Agency for Natural Resources and Energy 2019, nearly 85% of Japan's electricity comes from fossil fuels imported from the sea, and this PowerX proposal is for an energy carrier that plans to replace traditional fossil fuels and promote renewable energy.

Founded earlier this year under the leadership of technology entrepreneur Masahiro Ito, PowerX plans to build its own automated mega-factory, while assembling batteries in Japan using multiple sources of cells. The factory will produce battery systems to serve the marine, electric vehicle fast charging and grid-scale storage markets, with PowerX targeting an annual capacity of 1GWh in 2024, increasing to 5GWh by 2028.

Under the agreement, in the future, PowerX the start-up will manufacture battery storage systems and battery-related systems, and Power ARK electric container ships will have 220MWh of battery capacity, with the ships themselves powered by electricity and biodiesel.

"Reducing carbon emissions is a major issue that must be addressed by the shipbuilding and shipping industries," said Yukito Higaki, president of Imabari Shipbuilding. "We see this alliance as the perfect opportunity, and PowerX is meeting the challenge in a different way than the existing shipbuilding and shipping industry."

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become the primary energy storage solution for life in modern society. Among them, lithium iron phosphate batteries are perfect replacements for lead-acid batteries and are even more preferred by industries such as grid-connected peaking, off-grid energy storage, photovoltaic storage, UPS and data centres.

Solar power systems with Li-ion battery energy storage systems are very promising clean energy.