日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Oct 22, 2021 (Fri)

‌【Interview】PowerX, launched by Masahiro Ito, to build world’s first “Power Transfer Vessel“

Mr. Masahiro Ito, President and CEO of PowerX

　The new company “PowerX“ launched by Mr. Masahiro Ito, who was involved in the development of “ZOZO ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80The+new+company+%E2%80%9C%3Cb%3EPowerX%3C%2Fb%3E%E2%80%9C+launched+by+Mr.+Masahiro+Ito%2C+who+was+involved+in+the+development+of+%E2%80%9CZOZOSUIT%E2%80%9C+and+was+the+COO+%28Chief+Operating+Officer%29+of+ZOZO%2C+is+proceeding+with+a+project+to+build+the+world%E2%80%99s+first+%E2%80%9CPower+Transfer+Vessel%E2%80%9C+that+stores+electricity+created+at+an+offshore+wind+farm+near+Japan+in+a+large+storage+battery+to+be+loaded+and+transports+it+to+land.+We+asked+Mr.+Ito%2C+who+revealed+the+unique+concept+of+transporting+electricity+by+ship%2C+about+the+aim+of+the+business.+%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Ichiho+Asano%29+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--+Please+tell+us+about+the+background+behind+the+announcement+of+the+new+initiative+of+developing+%E2%80%9CPower+Transfer+Vessels.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAs+we+approach+an+era+in+which+environmental+initiatives+such+as+the+application+of+SDGs+%28Sustainable+Development+Goals%29+and+ESG+%28Environmental%2C+Social%2C+and+Governance%29+management+are+directly+linked+to+corporate+value%2C+demand+for+hybrid+model+ships+equipped+with+large+storage+batteries+and+fully+electric+propulsion+ships+will+increase+in+order+to+reduce+GHG+%28greenhouse+gas%29+emissions+in+marine+logistics.+In+addition%2C+renewable+energy+is+attracting+attention+due+to+the+global+decarbonization+trend%2C+and+there+is+a+demand+for+the+development+of+offshore+wind+farms+and+the+supply+of+storage+batteries+with+excellent+cost+performance.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CUnder+these+circumstances%2C+in+order+to+promote+the+spread+of+renewable+energy+and+inexpensive+storage+batteries%2C+we+proposed+construction+of+a+factory+that+produces+container-type+storage+batteries+that+can+also+be+used+as+a+power+source+for+ships%2C+and+a+Power+Transfer+Vessel%2C+%E2%80%98Power+ARK%2C%E2%80%99+that+carries+electricity+from+floating+offshore+wind+power+plants+installed+in+the+sea+near+Japan+to+land.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Energy+independence+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--+Why+did+you+come+up+with+the+idea+of+utilizing+offshore+wind+farms%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CJapan+relies+on+imports+from+overseas+for+energy+resources+that+are+essential+for+the+development+and+maintenance+of+industries.+Trade+through+maritime+logistics+is+very+important%2C+but+the+current+situation+is+that+the+so-called+%E2%80%98energy+independence%E2%80%99+that+produces%2C+stores%2C+and+uses+energy+by+itself+has+not+been+established.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CCurrently%2C+85%25+of+the+energy+used+for+power+generation+is+carbon-based+resources+such+as+coal+and+natural+gas.+Considering+the+reduction+of+environmental+load%2C+Japan+needs+to+increase+the+ratio+of+renewable+energy+and+promote+decarbonization.+And+considering+disasters+such+as+earthquakes+and+tsunamis%2C+I+would+like+to+find+potential+in+wind+power+plants+installed+offshore.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--+The+government+is+trying+to+increase+the+total+electricity+of+offshore+wind+farms+to+up+to+45+million+kW+by+2040.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CCurrently%2C+the+area+where+offshore+wind+farms+can+be+installed+in+Japan+is+limited+to+30+kilometers+offshore.+However%2C+if+the+area+can+be+expanded+to+300+kilometers+by+utilizing+floating+offshore+wind+farms%2C+the+possibility+of+renewable+energy+will+greatly+expand.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COn+the+other+hand%2C+the+risk+is+the+existence+of+cables+that+are+essential+for+sending+electricity+from+offshore+wind+farms+to+land.+It%E2%80%99s+hard+to+install+cables+and+they+break+down.+Cables+may+be+broken+due+to+the+effects+of+earthquakes+or+ships.+With+that+in+mind%2C+we+came+up+with+a+simple+solution%3A+%E2%80%98carrying+electricity+by+ship.%E2%80%99%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+High+offshore+efficiency+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80-Isn%E2%80%99t+it+more+efficient+to+use+cables+than+to+carry+electricity+by+ship%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+initial+cost+of+the+cable+is+very+high%2C+and+the+uptime+%28continuous+operation+time%29+is+about+90-95%25.+If+you+add+more+cables%2C+the+initial+cost+will+jump+up+several+times.+Although+it+is+said+to+last+for+20+years%2C+it+will+cost+more+to+repair+or+re-lay+them+every+time+something+goes+wrong.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIf+it%E2%80%99s+a+ship%2C+you+don%E2%80%99t+have+to+move+it+when+the+wind+turbine+is+stopped%2C+such+as+in+bad+weather.+Of+course%2C+if+it+is+closer+to+the+coast%2C+cables+have+a+cost+advantage+in+terms+of+construction+and+maintenance.+But+if+it+is+as+far+as+100+kilometers+offshore%2C+it%E2%80%99s+better+to+use+Power+Transfer+Vessel.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Collaboration+with+Japanese+shipyards+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--+What+kind+of+specifications+does+the+%E2%80%9CPower+Transfer+Vessel%E2%80%9C+have%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9C%E2%80%99Power+ARK%E2%80%99+is+a+cargo+ship+that+is+supposed+to+carry+electricity.+It+will+be+charged+by+connecting+it+to+the+terminal+of+the+floating+body+located+around+the+offshore+wind+farm+located+100+kilometers+offshore+using+a+cable.+It+will+have+a+mobile+crane+on+the+deck.+A+thruster+will+be+attached+to+the+bow+side+because+the+performance+to+keep+its+position+is+required.+The+one+announced+is+a+trimaran+%28three-hull%29+type+in+consideration+of+stability.+However%2C+we+must+verify+how+versatile+the+shape+of+the+hull+can+be%2C+such+as+energy+efficiency+and+fuel+efficiency.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+first+ship%2C+the+%E2%80%98Power+ARK+100%E2%80%99+type+ship%2C+is+designed+for+the+waters+near+Japan+and+can+carry+100+TEU+of+grid+batteries+%28system+storage+batteries%29.+The+storage+capacity+is+220+megawatt+hour.+It+is+assumed+that+the+total+length+is+100+meters%2C+the+width+is+21.9+meters%2C+and+the+deadweight+tonnage+is+2200+dwt.+Of+course%2C+it+is+indispensable+to+work+with+Japanese+shipbuilding+companies+and+shipbuilding+engineers+to+nail+down+details%2C+and+we+would+like+to+launch+a+project+with+one+or+several+companies+so+that+we+can+carry+out+test+operations+by+2025.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+For+SC+of+Japanese+shipyards+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--+For+large+storage+batteries+to+be+mounted+on+Power+Transfer+Vessels%2C+you+plan+to+start+construction+of+a+manufacturing+plant+in+2022%2C+prototype+production+in+2023%2C+and+full-scale+production+in+2024.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+will+start+mass-production+of+large+container-type+storage+batteries+for+ships+by+around+2025.+The+3600-cycle+lithium-ion+battery+could+be+applied+not+only+to+power+sources+for+coastal+vessels+but+also+to+large+ocean-going+hybrid+model+vessels.+By+building+a+factory+in+Japan%2C+we+would+like+to+put+it+on+the+supply+chain+%28SC%29+of+Japanese+shipyards.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIssues+include+specifications%2C+required+equipment+linkage+methods%2C+electricity+input%2Foutput+status%2C+and+packaging+methods.+In+cooperation+with+shipbuilding+companies%2C+marine+companies+that+distribute+power+on+board+ships%2C+and+ship+class+associations%2C+we+will+make+safety+standards+to+comply+with+those+of+ships.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Lower+the+cost+with+mass+production+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--+The+bottleneck+of+electrification+is+that+it+is+difficult+to+obtain+inexpensive+storage+batteries.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+response+to+growing+environmental+awareness%2C+the+mission+is+to+electrify+ships+and+automobiles%2C+but+unfortunately+there+are+no+factories+in+Japan.+Currently%2C+the+average+price+is+in+the+100%2C000+yen+range+per+kilowatt+hour.+Japan+has+a+large+demand+for+storage+batteries+mainly+to+develop+charging+networks+for+electric+vehicles+%28EVs%29%2C+and+mass+production+through+factory+automation+will+reduce+the+price+to+the+40%2C000+yen+level+per+kilowatt+hour.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CUntil+now%2C+there+is+no+supply+chain+for+storage+batteries+in+Japan%2C+so+we+had+no+choice+but+to+purchase+batteries+made+overseas%2C+but+demand+will+arise+when+it+can+be+made+cheaply+and+in+large+quantities.+And+when+there+is+a+lot+of+demand%2C+it+will+be+possible+to+supply+cheaper.+With+batteries+from+European+electric+giants+ABB%2C+Corvus+and+Tesla+coming+in%2C+we+will+thoroughly+develop+domestically+from+production+to+after-sales+service.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--+What+are+your+thoughts+on+the+safety+of+installing+storage+batteries+on+ships%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+the+latter+half+of+the+2020s%2C+there+will+be+semi-solid-state+batteries+and+all-solid-state+batteries+that+do+not+use+liquid.+Semi-solid-state+batteries+reduce+the+risk+of+internal+short+circuits.+The+major+industries+of+the+world+economy+are+supporting+research+and+development+of+batteries%2C+and+the+realization+of+safe+and+dense+batteries+will+continue+to+be+advanced+as+an+issue+for+humankind.+Of+course%2C+all-solid-state+battery+ventures+are+emerging+in+Japan+as+well%2C+and+we+plan+to+put+cutting-edge+technology+into+the+supply+chain.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--+What+kind+of+business+model+will+you+build+in+the+future%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+an+engineering+company+that+comes+up+with+ideas%2C+creates+and+provides+systems.+I+am+not+thinking+of+operating+it+in-house.+We+will+create+a+business+model+that+will+be+profitable+by+having+technology+that+can+be+expanded+internationally%2C+and+when+there+will+be+hundreds+of+ships+carrying+electricity+every+year.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CJapan+must+have+been+a+technology+powerhouse%2C+and+I+hope+it+will+continue+to+be+so.+By+newly+entering+the+maritime+industry%2C+it+will+make+it+easier+for+subsequent+ventures.+We+hope+that+our+technologies+and+solutions+can+contribute+to+Japan+as+much+as+possible.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Masahiro+Ito%3A+Established+Yappa+in+December+2000.+In+January+2016%2C+representative+CEO+of+START+TODAY+Engineering+%28currently+ZOZO+Technologies%29.+In+June+2017%2C+he+was+a+director+of+START+TODAY+%28currently+ZOZO%29.+September+2019%2C+ZOZO+Director+and+COO.+Launched+%E2%80%9C%3Cb%3EPowerX%3C%2Fb%3E%E2%80%9C+in+March+2021+and+became+representative+director+and+CEO.+38+years+old.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E

【インタビュー　世界初の電気運搬船】パワーエックス代表取締役社長CEO・伊藤正裕氏、洋上風発さらなる普及へ

2021/10/22(金)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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