Panasonic and Yanmar in distributed energy alliance

JAPAN: Panasonic is to collaborate in a distributed energy business with fellow Japanese company Yanmar to deploy solutions based on air conditioners and micro cogeneration systems.

Panasonic Corporation Air Quality Air Conditioning Co and Yanmar Energy System Co, a group company of Yanmar Holdings, will localise power generation by providing systems that employ Yanmar micro cogeneration units and Panasonic absorption chillers. This distributed energy system is expected to achieve high energy efficiency by maximising the use of waste heat. 

Panasonic and Yanmar will also jointly develop a dedicated controller to link the absorption chiller and the micro cogeneration system. By optimally controlling the number of devices, schedule management, and waste heat distribution, further savings are said to be possible. 

While distributed energy systems are currently used by large-scale businesses, the new alliance is expected to open availability to medium-sized businesses.

Demonstration tests start at Panasonic’s factory in Oizumi-cho, Gunma Prefecture, this month, with orders being taken in April 2023.

Panasonic Corporation Air Quality Air Conditioning Company is a merger of the Air Conditioning Refrigeration Solutions Division, which develops the air conditioning business, and Panasonic Ecosystems Co Ltd, which handles the air quality business such as ventilation and air cleaning equipment.