Panasonic has launched a cutting-edge energy system at its microwave oven assembly plant in Cardiff, Wales, which is fully powered by renewable energy sources. The new system integrates hydrogen fuel cell generators, photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, and storage batteries to provide a sustainable energy solution for the factory’s operations.
The company plans to enhance the system further by March 2025 with the addition of an energy management system (EMS) to optimize electricity usage based on demand and weather conditions.
As part of this innovative initiative, Panasonic has installed 21 units of 5 kW hydrogen fuel cell generators, forming a distributed network to efficiently meet the energy needs of the plant. In conjunction with 372 kW of PV solar power and 1MWh of storage batteries, the goal is to ensure that the facility operates entirely on renewable energy.
The hydrogen fuel cells will not only supply electricity but will also harness the heat produced during energy generation for heating and hot water, targeting an impressive energy efficiency rate of 95%. The factory, covering an area of approximately 1,200 square meters, is designed to serve as a model for clean energy integration in industrial settings.
The Cardiff facility consumes around 1 GWh of electricity annually, with a peak demand of 280 kW. It is located within a larger 29,000 sqm Panasonic complex, which boasts a total of 760 kW of installed PV capacity, with 372 kW allocated specifically to the microwave oven assembly operations.
“This project uses green hydrogen to generate in-house power, integrating three types of renewable energy sources to run the factory on 100% clean energy. It is a first for Panasonic and a key step in our efforts to contribute to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions in Europe,” the company said in a statement.
With this unique demonstration, Panasonic aims to tailor an energy solution that aligns with the regional characteristics of environmentally progressive European countries, highlighting its commitment to innovation and sustainability in industrial energy consumption.
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