Providing solutions for hydrogen
Achieving sustainability goals
Traditional gas meters are only able to monitor natural gas due to their design. In order to achieve the ambitious sustainability goals of RE100*, new technologies are needed to expand the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier.
* RE100 is the global corporate renewable energy initiative bringing together hundreds of large and ambitious businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity.
New gas metering devices
By developing the ultrasonic measurement unit for gas meters, Panasonic enables the hydrogen blending (mixing hydrogen to natural gas) for a more sustainable energy supply. The industries first ultrasonic smart gas flow meter furthermore enables real-time measurement of the flow rate and concentration of hydrogen, even in highly humid environments.
This solution allows hydrogen blending of 30% right now, and the use of 100% hydrogen in the future to achieve the sustainability goals that the RE100 defined, and Panasonic set itself as a goal.
H2 KIBOU FIELD – A RE100 demonstration facility
In April, Panasonic Corporation announced that it plans to commission its new H2 KIBOU FIELD plant. This facility was built as a demonstration of a Panasonic renewable energy solution known as RE100 (Renewable Energy 100%) where 100% of the electricity used to power the site is generated from renewable resources; it is part of a self-sufficient energy system that combines generation from pure hydrogen and solar sources. This is the first demonstration in the world to fully deploy hydrogen fuel cells for a 100% renewable energy production site.
The 5 kW Pure Hydrogen Fuel Cell produces electricity through chemical reaction with high purity hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen.
Technology delivered from the development of Panasonic's ENE-FARM fuel cell combined heat and power system driven by Natural gas instead of pure hydrogen. By adopting the common design concept, the new product provides stable power generation performance and achieves 56% electrical efficiency. The output can be increased as needed by connecting and controlling multiple generator units. Thanks to its lightweight and compact housing, the generator can also be flexibly adapted to different installation conditions, e.g. on the roof or in confined spaces.
The main features of the product are:
- The 5 kW unit is scalable to increase output power by connecting multiple units
- Achieves the industry's best*1 electrical efficiency of 56 %.
- Applicable for combined heat and power generation
- Can maintain operation even during power outages
- Fast start-up
Read more here.
More on new H2 KIBOU FIELD plant can be found here.
Suita Sustainable Smart Town (Suita SST)
“The aim of business should be to improve people's lives.” Konosuke Matsushita
Panasonic is working to realize its founder's vision through its development of Sustainable Smart Towns (SSTs).
They address the common themes of renewable energy to power them, the deployment of technology to facilitate mobility and security for their residents, and a focus on community and well-being.
Read more about Suita Sustainable Smart Town here.
