SoftBank Launches ¥100 Billion AI Batteries Business

Why It Matters

By creating its own AI‑power supply chain, SoftBank reduces dependence on external battery vendors and taps a fast‑growing energy‑storage market, adding a diversified, high‑margin revenue stream.

Key Takeaways

• SoftBank targets ¥100 billion ($720 M) AI‑battery revenue by FY2030
• GX factory aims for GWh‑per‑year battery output by FY2028
• Partners Cosmos Lab (zinc‑halogen) and DeltaX (high‑density storage)
• Batteries will power SoftBank’s AI data centres and external markets
• International expansion considered, but not included in FY2030 forecast

Pulse Analysis

The surge in artificial‑intelligence workloads is driving unprecedented electricity consumption, prompting telecom operators to secure their own power sources. SoftBank’s latest venture ties together its data‑centre expansion with a vertically integrated battery supply chain, aiming to control both the compute and the energy that fuels it. By situating the AI data centre and manufacturing hubs on the former Sharp site in Osaka, the group leverages existing industrial infrastructure while accelerating its rollout timeline, even if full‑scale operations slip past the 2025 target.

At the heart of the battery effort is a partnership with Cosmos Lab, which supplies a water‑based electrolyte for zinc‑halogen cells. This chemistry offers non‑flammable storage, sidestepping the safety concerns that have plagued lithium‑ion solutions and appealing to regulators and industrial users alike. Complementing this, DeltaX brings expertise in high‑energy‑density modules, positioning the GX factory to deliver gigawatt‑hour‑scale output by fiscal 2028. The dual‑track approach—combining safer chemistry with superior density—targets a broad market from grid‑level storage to factory and residential applications.

For investors and industry watchers, SoftBank’s move signals a strategic diversification beyond its traditional telecom and venture‑capital roots. The projected $720 million revenue stream not only adds a new profit centre but also reinforces Japan’s push for resilient, low‑carbon power infrastructure. As AI models become more compute‑intensive, the demand for reliable, high‑capacity energy storage will only intensify, giving SoftBank a foothold in a market poised for rapid expansion both domestically and, eventually, abroad. This integration of AI services and power assets could set a template for other operators seeking to monetize the energy side of the AI boom.