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The Japan Times
SoftBank plans to make large-scale batteries for AI data centers
SoftBank Corp., the mobile unit of SoftBank Group, announced plans to begin large-scale battery cell manufacturing at its plant in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, to address growing power demand for AI services. The company will partner with South Korea's Cosmos Lab and DeltaX to enable mass production starting April next year, aiming for an output of one gigawatt-hour per year, making it one of Japan's largest such facilities. The batteries will primarily power SoftBank's AI data centers but will also be supplied for grid applications, factories, and residential use, with potential expansion to global markets. This move underscores the critical intersection of energy infrastructure and AI growth, as data centers require reliable, large-scale energy storage.
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Published 11 May 2026, 04:45 UTC1 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- SoftBank will manufacture large-scale batteries for AI data centers at its Sakai plant.
- Partnership with Cosmos Lab and DeltaX to start mass production in fiscal year starting April next year.
- Initial output target of 1 GWh per year, scalable to several GWh.
- Batteries will also be used for grid, industrial, and residential applications.
- SoftBank plans to expand into global markets over the medium term.
- Addresses power demand challenge driven by AI service expansion.
Interesting facts
- The facility will be one of the largest battery storage plants in Japan, according to BloombergNEF data.