PowerX, a Japanese company, has designed a battery tanker that can transport large amounts of energy across the world’s oceans, similar to an oil tanker. The production of electricity through wind and solar power is not equally efficient in all regions of the world. Therefore, technologies must be created to transport electric energy from the production site to the consumer. PowerX has designed a 140-meter-long battery tanker, called the Tanker X, which can store up to 240 megawatt-hours of energy and transport it across the seas. However, the current operating distance of this model is limited to a maximum of kilometers. The Tanker X is an experimental model, and its performance must be proven before it can be used. The completion of this innovative model is planned for 2025, with the first global test runs scheduled for the following year.
According to New Atlas, the Tanker X is just one of a fleet of energy storage ships that will serve different sizes and purposes. The flagship model of the series offers an impressive storage capacity of two gigawatt-hours. A hypothetical calculation shows that a ship of the Tanker X’s dimensions could transmit approximately 4,190 gigawatt-hours of energy from Hokkaido to Aomori annually, a distance of about 100 kilometers. The cost of this transport would be approximately 0.17 dollars per kilowatt-hour, compared to the average price of electricity in Japan, which is 0.25 dollars per kilowatt-hour.
PowerX explains that the battery tanker is an alternative to submarine cables in problematic regions. Japan is surrounded by deep oceans and is also prone to earthquakes, making it difficult to lay power cables. Another advantage of transporting electricity by ship is that there are no long interruptions, as would be the case if an underwater cable were damaged. Additionally, laying cables would require expensive infrastructure such as substations and high-voltage connections.
In conclusion, PowerX’s Tanker X is an innovative solution to the challenge of transporting electricity across the seas. While the current operating distance of the model is limited, the progress in battery technology could lead to an extended range of electric tankers in the future. The Tanker X and its fleet of energy storage ships could provide a cost-effective and reliable alternative to submarine cables in problematic regions.
