Panasonic offers Japan’s first DC AC
20th April 2025
JAPAN: Panasonic has produced what it claims is Japan’s first commercial air conditioner primarily powered by DC current for a mixed use development using solar PV and electric storage in Osaka.
While solar power generation and storage batteries use DC current as their input and output, the conversion to AC current when distributing electricity within a building can result in power losses of up to 15%. As the introduction of renewable energy is expected to expand in the future, the use of DC power sources is attracting attention from the perspective of reducing CO2 emissions.
Panasonic’s air conditioner compatible with DC power is based on its all-in-one hybrid Smart Multi air conditioner which combines a gas heat pump air conditioner and an electric heat pump air conditioner. This was achieved by combining Smart Multi, which previously only supported AC, with DC linkage technology that operates the air conditioner using DC generated by a generator built into the air conditioner during a power outage. This makes it possible to operate the air conditioner using DC power transmission from solar power generation or storage batteries.
Three air conditioners are scheduled to be installed in the 10th to 25th floors of a 26-storey office building, part of the Honmachi 4-chome Project, which is scheduled for completion in July 2026.
The office area will adopt Japan’s largest DC power distribution system. This will distribute electricity from four types of DC power sources – solar power generation system, lithium-ion storage battery, EV reuse storage battery and electric vehicle connected to rapid charger/discharger – and eight types of DC loads – air conditioning, lighting, automatic environmental control system, USB outlets, ventilation equipment, cleaning robot, elevator and rapid charge/discharge equipment for electric vehicles.
This is said to be the largest system in Japan in terms of the number of connections, and the first attempt in Japan in a private rental office building. It is also the first commercial air conditioning system in Japan that uses DC power distribution as the main power source.
