Panasonic has started a test run of facilities installed at a microwave oven plant in the United Kingdom to allow the plant to run solely on renewable energy.
Panasonic installed a system to generate power using green hydrogen, produced without causing carbon dioxide emissions. It is the world's first power generation system using pure hydrogen fuel cells that run on green hydrogen, according to the company.
At the plant in Cardiff, Wales, operations powered solely by renewable energy will begin in March next year.
Using hydrogen sourced in Wales, the power generation system combines 21 fuel cell generators, two lithium storage batteries and existing solar panels.
The system is designed to provide the stable generation and distribution of 1 gigawatt-hours of power needed annually for assembling microwave ovens at the plant, through Panasonic's own control system using artificial intelligence technology.
Waste heat generated during power generation is to be used to provide heating at the plant.
Panasonic plans to hold similar trials at other locations in Europe, aiming to establish a business centered around the power generation system as early as 2030.
In March next year, Panasonic will install a similar power generation system at a plant in Germany.
"We'll collect and analyze energy management data from the trial runs to provide (energy) management methods suitable for each individual location," Panasonic CEO Masahiro Shinada said.
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