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Oceanic Cargo Electrification, In Four "Easy" Steps
(given that even @elonmusk's Roadrunner packs aren't sufficiently power dense or low cost for the role)
Step 1) Build floating wind farms...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_wind_turbine
(given that even @elonmusk's Roadrunner packs aren't sufficiently power dense or low cost for the role)
Step 1) Build floating wind farms...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_wind_turbine
... ditching all of the costs associated with the right half of this image.
... and locating them at regular spaced intervals (<24-48h travel time) across the oceans - ideally on seamounts and continental shelf extensions for easier anchoring.
2) Just like harbours keep tugs at the ready to assist docking ships, keep "charging ships" at the ready, plugged into the substation platform.
3) When a cargo ship needs charging, dispatch a charging ship to refill it with a boom.
Just like is done with liquid refueling at sea today, a single ship can charge two ships paralleling it at the same time, without them having to stop.
Just like is done with liquid refueling at sea today, a single ship can charge two ships paralleling it at the same time, without them having to stop.
4) Once recharging is complete, break off and return to the substation to recharge.
Notes:
* While trans-oceanic shipping ranges are mass and cost prohibitive, 24-48 hours between charges is realistic
* Cycles are few; cycle life is not a challenge
* Neither are C-rates; cells can be purely energy and cost-focused, without trying to maximize charge rates
* While trans-oceanic shipping ranges are mass and cost prohibitive, 24-48 hours between charges is realistic
* Cycles are few; cycle life is not a challenge
* Neither are C-rates; cells can be purely energy and cost-focused, without trying to maximize charge rates
Extra pros:
* None of this generation capacity needs to be built on-land - just the endless expanses of open sea.
* Ships at port will represent *massive* V2G grid buffers.
* Their packs will be so large that you could literally send emergency power 100s of km, like cargo.
* None of this generation capacity needs to be built on-land - just the endless expanses of open sea.
* Ships at port will represent *massive* V2G grid buffers.
* Their packs will be so large that you could literally send emergency power 100s of km, like cargo.
Cons:
* Floating wind exists but is relatively immature compared to anchored wind.
* Floating solar has taken off in popularity, but thusfar only on inland bodies of water.
In both cases, the (no-longer-needed) cost of getting power back to land has discouraged progress.
* Floating wind exists but is relatively immature compared to anchored wind.
* Floating solar has taken off in popularity, but thusfar only on inland bodies of water.
In both cases, the (no-longer-needed) cost of getting power back to land has discouraged progress.
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