日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Apr 24, 2024 (Wed)

PowerX to set up new company to operate Power Transfer Vessels and barges

Barge-type Power Transfer Vessel “Power Barge“ (Provided by PowerX)

　PowerX (President: Masahiro Ito), a startup company working on realizing the world’s first Power Tr ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%3Cb%3EPowerX%3C%2Fb%3E+%28President%3A+Masahiro+Ito%29%2C+a+startup+company+working+on+realizing+the+world%E2%80%99s+first+Power+Transfer+Vessel%2C+announced+on+April+23+that+it+has+established+a+new+company%2C+%E2%80%9COcean+Power+Grid%2C%E2%80%9D+to+develop+and+sell+Power+Transfer+Vessels.+The+company+will+accelerate+its+marine+power+transmission+business+through+this+company%2C+aiming+to+start+commercial+operation+of+its+first+vessel+%E2%80%9CX%E2%80%9C+%28100+TEU%29+in+the+second+half+of+2026.+At+the+same+time%2C+the+company+unveiled+a+new+design+for+an+electric+transport+barge+that+is+less+expensive+than+a+Power+Transfer+Vessel+and+is+suitable+for+flat+water+areas.+The+strategic+use+of+vessels+and+barges+will+improve+operational+efficiency+and+economy.+The+company+has+also+recently+completed+the+establishment+of+a+mass+production+system+for+marine+batteries%2C+bringing+the+realization+of+Power+Transfer+Vessels+within+reach.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Ocean+Power+Grid+was+established+on+February+9+as+a+wholly+owned+subsidiary+of+%3Cb%3EPowerX%3C%2Fb%3E%2C+taking+over+the+company%E2%80%99s+marine+and+wind+power+generation+businesses+and+their+specialized+technologies.+The+company+develops%2C+owns%2C+and+sells+Power+Transfer+Vessels.+It+also+transports+electricity+at+sea+using+these+vessels%2C+sells+electricity%2C+and+sells+marine+batteries.+Ito+will+also+serve+as+representative+director.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+new+company+will+carry+out+a+third-party+allotment+of+new+shares+in+two+stages%2C+targeting+shipping%2C+shipbuilding%2C+power+and+energy+companies.+The+company+%E2%80%9Cplans+to+raise+more+than+10+billion+yen%2C%E2%80%9C+according+to+President+Ito%2C+including+the+construction+costs+of+the+first+vessel%2C+design+and+development+costs%2C+and+working+capital+for+the+new+company.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Ocean+Power+Grid+is+currently+preparing+detailed+specifications+for+the+completion+of+the+first+vessel+%E2%80%9CX%E2%80%9C+of+its+100+TEU+Power+Transfer+Vessel+series+%E2%80%9CPower+Ark+100.%E2%80%9C+Detailed+design+is+scheduled+to+be+completed+this+summer.+After+type+approval+and+test+operations%2C+the+company+will+start+receiving+orders+and+begin+construction+in+the+first+half+of+2025%2C+aiming+for+completion+and+commercial+operation+in+the+second+half+of+2026.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+ship+is+an+electric+propulsion+vessel+with+a+length+overall+of+147+meters%2C+width+of+18.6+meters%2C+and+a+draft+of+6+meters%2C+and+will+be+equipped+with+96+%3Cb%3EPowerX%3C%2Fb%3E+20-feet+container-type+marine+batteries+in+its+hold.+The+battery+capacity+is+240+megawatt-hours%2C+which+is+extremely+large+compared+to+the+3.5+megawatt-hours+for+a+typical+electric+coastal+ship.+The+vessel+will+be+built+by+Imabari+Shipbuilding%2C+which+was+one+of+the+first+to+decide+to+invest+in+%3Cb%3EPowerX%3C%2Fb%3E+at+the+end+of+2021+and+begin+joint+development+of+Power+Transfer+Vessels.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80On+April+23%2C+Ocean+Power+Grid+unveiled+the+concept+for+%E2%80%9CPower+Barge%E2%80%9D%2C+a+barge-type+Power+Transfer+Vessel+ideal+for+operation+in+short+distances+and+calm%2C+flat+water+areas%2C+as+a+variant+model+of+%E2%80%9CPower+Ark.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+%E2%80%9CPower+Barge%E2%80%9C+is+a+large+barge+with+a+length+overall+of+approximately+81+meters%2C+a+width+of+30+meters%2C+and+a+deadweight+capacity+of+approximately+6%2C000+tons.+Like+%E2%80%9CPower+Ark%2C%E2%80%9D+it+is+equipped+with+96+20-foot+container-type+marine+batteries+and+can+transport+up+to+240+megawatt-hours+of+electricity+at+one+time.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+hull+is+raft-shaped+and+optimized+for+use+in+waters+with+low+wave+heights%2C+such+as+the+Seto+Inland+Sea.+It+was+designed+as+a+model+that+could+reduce+costs+compared+to+%E2%80%9CPower+Ark.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Due+to+the+barge%E2%80%99s+hull+specifications%2C+construction+costs+are+lower+than+those+of+a+Power+Transfer+Vessel.+In+addition%2C+since+the+barge+does+not+have+a+propulsion+system+and+is+towed+by+a+tugboat%2C+only+about+five+crew+members+are+required+on+the+tugboat%2C+which+reduces+operating+costs+compared+to+%E2%80%9CPower+Ark%2C%E2%80%9D+which+is+operated+by+a+crew+of+15.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Ocean+Power+Grid+will+use+Power+Transfer+Vessels+in+long-distance+areas+with+rough+waves+up+to+2%2C000+meters+deep%2C+and+power+transfer+barges+in+closer+areas+with+calm+waves+with+significant+wave+heights+of+less+than+1+meter%2C+depending+on+the+needs+of+the+consumers.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Regarding+%E2%80%9CPower+Barge%2C%E2%80%9C+Ito+said%2C+%E2%80%9CIt+depends+on+discussions+with+customers%2C+but+we+would+like+to+start+commercial+operations+in+the+second+half+of+2026.%E2%80%9C+In+terms+of+the+construction+yard+for+the+barge%2C+Ito+said%2C+%E2%80%9CWe+are+discussing+with+Imabari+Shipbuilding.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%3Cb%3EPowerX%3C%2Fb%3E+has+also+recently+completed+the+establishment+of+a+mass+production+system+for+marine+batteries+at+%E2%80%9CPower+Base%2C%E2%80%9D+one+of+Japan%E2%80%99s+largest+battery+factories%2C+which+was+built+in+Tamano+City%2C+Okayama+Prefecture.+Specifically%2C+the+company+has+completed+an+automated+production+line+for+marine+battery+modules+that+use+LFP+batteries+%28lithium+iron+phosphate+batteries%29%2C+which+are+cobalt-free+and+non-flammable.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80It+uses+150+of+the+modules+to+make+a+20-feet+container-type+marine+battery%2C+so+14%2C400+of+them+are+required+for+each+Power+Transfer+Vessel%2F+barge+equipped+with+96+units.+%E2%80%9CWe+have+a+system+in+place+that+will+allow+us+to+produce+15-16+vessels+per+year%2C+and+we+plan+to+start+mass+production+in+July+2025%2C%E2%80%9C+Ito+said.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+an+interview+with+the+Japan+Maritime+Daily%2C+President+Ito+emphasized%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+completion+of+the+production+line%2C+which+is+subject+to+certification+by+the+Classification+Society%2C+and+the+establishment+of+a+mass+production+system+for+marine+LFP+batteries%2C+which+is+unprecedented+in+the+world%2C+is+a+major+milestone.%E2%80%9C+He+said+negotiations+with+multiple+shippers+are+also+underway.+He+added%2C+%E2%80%9CWe+are+finally+entering+the+phase+of+building+and+realizing+Power+Transfer+Vessels.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E3%80%90Explanation%E3%80%91Targeting+the+new+offshore+wind+power+market.+To+an+offshore+power+infrastructure+company+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Electricity+generated+at+offshore+wind+farms+near+the+coast+of+Japan+will+be+transported+to+land+by+Power+Transfer+Vessels+equipped+with+large+storage+batteries.+%3Cb%3EPowerX%3C%2Fb%3E+was+founded+with+this+vision+and+is+now+experiencing+a+strong+tailwind+for+its+Power+Transfer+Vessel+business.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80On+March+12%2C+the+government+passed+a+cabinet+decision+to+amend+the+%E2%80%9CRenewable+Energy+Maritime+Utilization+Act%E2%80%9D+to+expand+the+locations+for+installing+offshore+wind+farms+from+current+territorial+waters+to+exclusive+economic+zones+%28EEZs%29.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+terms+of+wind+power+farms+in+Japan%2C+the+areas+where+offshore+wind+turbines+could+be+installed+were+limited+to+within+territorial+waters.+Therefore%2C+the+power+generation+amount+has+previously+been+calculated+on+the+assumption+that+floating+turbines+would+be+installed+in+waters+up+to+300+meters+deep.+As+a+result%2C+Japan%E2%80%99s+current+offshore+wind+power+potential%2C+including+bottom-mounted+and+floating+wind+turbines%2C+is+estimated+to+be+approximately+550+gigawatts+%28giga+is+1+billion+watts%29.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Due+to+changes+in+the+law%2C+the+locations+where+offshore+wind+turbines+can+be+installed+have+been+expanded+to+include+the+EEZ.+%3Cb%3EPowerX%3C%2Fb%3E+estimates+that+this+will+create+a+new+market+for+approximately+2%2C000+gigawatts+of+offshore+wind+power+in+areas+300-2%2C000+meters+deep.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80And+currently%2C+only+Power+Transfer+Vessels+have+access+to+that+market.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80There+is+some+success+in+Japan+in+laying+undersea+cables+connecting+offshore+wind+farms+to+the+mainland+at+depths+of+up+to+300+meters.+However%2C+laying+cables+in+ocean+areas+deeper+than+300+meters+is+considered+impossible+with+current+technology%2C+and+there+is+no+track+record+of+doing+so.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80If+the+installation+range+of+offshore+wind+turbines+expands+to+areas+2%2C000+meters+deep%2C+it+is+found+that+the+wind+conditions+and+power+off+the+coast+of+Kanto%2C+Hokkaido%2C+and+Chubu%2C+where+electricity+demand+is+particularly+high%2C+are+particularly+strong.+%3Cb%3EPowerX%3C%2Fb%3E+believes+that+by+transporting+the+electricity+from+here+to+land+using+Power+Transfer+Vessels%2C+%E2%80%9Cit+will+be+possible+to+make+the+Kanto+region+a+major+hub+for+offshore+wind+power%E2%80%9C+%28President+Masahiro+Ito%29.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80If+a+new+market+for+offshore+wind+power+actually+emerges+and+it+becomes+possible+to+transport+electricity+using+Power+Transfer+Vessels%2C+what+will+the+onshore+reception+system+be+like%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%3Cb%3EPowerX%3C%2Fb%3E+envisions+utilizing+decommissioned+thermal+power+plants.+There+are+17+thermal+power+plants+across+the+country+that+have+already+been+scheduled+for+decommissioning+by+2030%2C+and+the+number+will+increase+even+more+if+plans+for+decommissioning+are+included.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80All+of+the+decommissioned+thermal+power+plants+are+adjacent+to+ports+and+already+have+berths%2C+such+as+coal+carrier+berths%2C+that+Power+Transfer+Vessels+can+dock.+Furthermore%2C+the+grid+lines+that+transmit+electricity+are+directly+connected+to+urban+areas%2C+where+demand+is+greatest%2C+and+are+hardly+used+at+all.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Therefore%2C+for+example%2C+if+electricity+was+transported+by+Power+Transfer+Vessels+from+offshore+wind+farms+off+the+coast+of+the+Kanto+region+to+a+thermal+power+plant+on+the+Miura+Peninsula+%28Kanagawa+Prefecture%29%2C+%E2%80%9Cit+would+be+possible+to+supply+huge+amounts+of+electricity+to+Tokyo+and+the+greater+Tokyo+area+at+low+cost%2C%E2%80%9C+according+to+Ito.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80This+means+that+most+of+the+new+cables+for+%E2%80%9Cinter-grid+transmission%E2%80%9C+across+the+jurisdictions+of+Japan%E2%80%99s+electric+power+companies%2C+which+the+government+is+planning+to+spend+huge+amounts+of+money+on%2C+will+no+longer+be+necessary.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+Japan%2C+plans+are+underway+to+gradually+phase+out+thermal+power+plants+as+part+of+an+environmental+initiative.+On+the+other+hand%2C+it+is+predicted+that+renewable+energy+sources+such+as+solar+and+wind+power+will+account+for+more+than+30%25+of+all+power+sources+by+2030.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+addition%2C+as+more+and+more+nuclear+power+plants+are+restarted%2C+the+number+of+output+restrictions+due+to+an+excess+supply+of+electricity+from+renewable+energy+sources+is+expected+to+increase+further+in+the+future%2C+particularly+in+Kyushu+and+the+Chugoku+region.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80To+resolve+these+issues%2C+it+is+essential+to+strengthen+grid+connections+between+areas+with+electricity+demand+and+regions+with+abundant+renewable+energy.+However%2C+constructing+inter-regional+transmission+lines+will+require+enormous+costs+and+amount+of+time.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80To+cope+with+these+situations%2C+Ocean+Power+Grid+uses+Power+Transfer+Vessels+for+long-distance+areas+with+rough+waves+up+to+2%2C000+meters+deep%2C+and+power+transfer+barges+for+closer+areas+with+calm+waves+where+the+significant+wave+height+is+less+than+1+meter.+The+company+aims+to+provide+a+new+means+of+power+transmission+that+can+flexibly+complement+the+grid%2C+and+to+become+%E2%80%9Can+offshore+power+transmission+company+with+a+highly+public+nature+that+contributes+to+improving+Japan%E2%80%99s+power+infrastructure%2C%E2%80%9D+according+to+Ito.+%3Cbr%3E%28Yusuke+Matsushita%29+%3Cbr%3E%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

パワーエックス、海上送電加速へ新会社。電気運搬船・バージ併用、26年後半商業運航

2024/04/24(水)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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