SoftBank (TYO:9984) is starting a new battery business in Japan to support artificial intelligence (AI) and energy storage growth. The company plans to produce batteries and storage systems at a gigawatt-hour (GWh) scale by early 2029 and aims to generate over JPY 100 billion (about USD 636 million) in domestic revenue by 2031.
SoftBank unveils GWh-scale battery cell, BESS business in Japan.
The Japanese conglomerate plans to initially deploy the batteries at its own AI data centres and later supply grid-scale, industrial and residential markets in both Japan and abroad.
The new battery business will be housed at a new factory on the former Sharp plant site in Sakai City, Osaka, with production expected to start from the fiscal year ending March, 2028. The same site already hosts an AI data centre under development.
For the cells, SoftBank has partnered with South Korean COSMOS LAB, specifically for its zinc-halogen technology that uses pure water as electrolyte, eliminating fire risks associated with conventional lithium-ion batteries while matching their energy density.
Each battery system will include an AI-powered energy management system (EMS) to control charging and discharging more efficiently. This system is designed to improve performance and is built on SoftBank’s existing electricity business, helping optimise energy use in both AI data centres and future power applications.
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