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Panasonic Installs an In-house Hydrogen based Renewable Energy Power Generation System in Its UK Factory

Tokyo, Japan – Panasonic Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Masahiro Shinada; hereinafter referred to as “Panasonic”) today announced that it has completed the installation and begun trial operation of a demonstration power generation system at Panasonic Manufacturing UK Ltd. (Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK; hereinafter referred to as “PMUK”), which develops, manufactures, and sells microwave ovens and other products. The microwave oven assembly factory is powered by renewable energy generated by the system through the integrated control of three types of energy sources: pure hydrogen fuel cell generators, photovoltaic generators, and storage batteries. PMUK will enhance resilience by efficiently generating and storing only the amount of electricity required on-site. Additionally, it will establish an energy management system (EMS) that tracks changes in the factory’s electricity demand and weather changes in the UK. The EMS will begin operation by the end of March 2025 and provide a stable supply of renewable energy to the microwave oven assembly factory. PMUK has installed 21 units of 5 kW pure hydrogen fuel cell generators as part of a distributed system optimized for the amount of electricity used in its microwave oven assembly factory. In combination with 372 kW photovoltaic generators and 1 MWh storage batteries, PMUK aims to operate the system to supply the necessary electricity from 100% renewable energy. The integrated control of 21 pure hydrogen fuel cell generators will level out the operating hours of each unit and improve maintainability, allowing for uninterrupted maintenance. Further, by using green hydrogen produced in the UK, the electricity used in the microwave oven assembly factory will be decarbonized. To power the microwave oven assembly factory, the photovoltaic power generation system for the demonstration uses an output of 372 kW, a portion of the total 760 kW output from photovoltaic power generators installed on the roof of the PMUK building last year. Panasonic will develop a highly effective solution that enables the integrated control of three types of batteries by combining existing photovoltaic generators with newly installed pure hydrogen fuel cell generators and storage batteries. The effectiveness of the solution will also be verified.

At this demonstration facility, heat generated during the electricity production by the pure hydrogen fuel cell generators will be used to provide heating and hot water in the microwave oven assembly factory, aiming to achieve an energy efficiency of 95% for the pure hydrogen fuel cell generators with the cogeneration effect. The heat generated during power generation will be used to preheat water for the newly installed “water circulation air conditioning system” (which collects heat from the atmosphere to create cold and hot water that is circulated around the room to adjust the room temperature), thereby further reducing power consumption during hot water heating operation through integrated heat utilization. Additionally, the factory aims to integrate the use of heat from existing electric boilers to reduce the power consumption required to supply hot water within the factory. When controlling the EMS, demonstration data will be accumulated concerning the balance of power supply and demand, dependent on changes in weather conditions, fluctuations in power demand, and other factors, while incorporating external local weather forecast data. This will help Panasonic accumulate know-how for enhancing the EMS, one of its core technologies, strengthen its supply and demand adjustment technology to minimize losses in the generation, storage, and transmission of renewable energy, and ensure a stable energy supply.

This demonstration uses green hydrogen for in-house power generation and integrates and controls three types of energy sources to run the factory on 100% renewable energy in environmentally advanced European countries. This globally unique initiative is the first attempt even for Panasonic. Through this demonstration, Panasonic aims to achieve a solution that is optimal for the characteristics of the region. Furthermore, through the operation of the demonstration system, the company will also seek to build relationships with local partner companies and business customers related to the hydrogen business to establish a business foundation. Aiming for a society where well-being and sustainability are compatible, Panasonic will create new businesses that contribute to UK society and climate change measures. It will also tackle efforts to develop its business from a long-term perspective toward the realization of a future hydrogen society and carbon neutrality.

Panasonic Installs an In-house Hydrogen based Renewable Energy Power Generation System in Its UK Factory - Hydrogen Central

The blue ammonia plant is the largest of its kind in the world and represents an important milestone in QatarEnergy’s strategy to expand in the clean energy sector by producing low carbon ammonia – one of the most important solutions to reduce CO2 emissions.

In his remarks at the ceremony, His Excellency Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said: “This facility consists of an ammonia production unit with a capacity of 1.2 million tpy, along with an additional unit for CO2 injection and storage, with a capacity of 1.5 million tpy. QatarEnergy will provide the new plant with more than 35 MW of electricity from the solar power plant currently being built in Mesaieed Industrial City, thereby becoming blue ammonia. This plant will enhance our ability to provide the world with low-carbon products, in line with the global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.”

His Excellency Minister Al-Kaabi pointed to the fact that: “In building this facility, we will rely on our own capabilities and expertise in the construction and operation of ammonia plants used for the production of fertilizers. This will be carried out in cooperation between QatarEnergy and Qatar Fertiliser Company - QAFCO.”

His Excellency added: “The blue ammonia plant joins a list of QatarEnergy’s large and ambitious expansion projects in Qatar and around the world covering LNG, oil and gas exploration and production, petrochemicals, fertilizers, solar power, and more.”

His Excellency Minister Al-Kaabi concluded his remarks by thanking the consortium implementing the project, consisting of ThyssenKrupp and CCC, as well as the working teams from QatarEnergy and QAFCO, whose efforts contributed to the realisation of the project.

His Excellency extended sincere thanks to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar for his patronage and unlimited support of the energy sector, and to His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, the Deputy Amir, Chairman of the QatarEnergy Board of Directors for laying the foundation stone of the blue ammonia plant.

With an investment of approximately QAR4.4 billion, the plant will be built in Mesaieed Industrial City, which offers a strategic location, integrated infrastructure, ideal capabilities, and a port that is considered one of the largest petrochemical export facilities in the Middle East.

The plant is expected to start production in the 2Q26, marking a milestone in Qatar Energy’s strategy to expand into the cleaner energy sector.

QatarEnergy beings construction of blue ammonia plant | Global Hydrogen Review

【世宗聯合ニュース】韓国電力取引所でクリーン水素発電の初入札が行われ、年間750ギガワット時（GWh）の電力供給計画を提出した発電所が落札した。産業通商資源部が2日発表した。

　 　同部は明らかにしなかったが、落札したのは発電事業会社の韓国南部発電とされる。 　同社は2028年から15年間、クリーン水素ベースのアンモニアで発電し、固定価格で電力を供給する。東部・三陟の石炭火力発電所、三陟グリーンパワー1号機の石炭の燃料比率を80％に引き下げ、水素化合物のアンモニアを20％混ぜる「混合燃焼」方式で発電する。 　大量のCO2を排出する火力発電所でクリーン水素を使う方式の商用発電市場を開設し運用するのは韓国が世界初。こうした技術を活用すれば同量の電気を生産しても石炭や液化天然ガス（LNG）のみを使うときよりも相対的に温室効果ガスの排出を減らせる。 　世界的にカーボンニュートラル（炭素中立）達成に向けクリーン水素を使った発電技術が開発されているが、まだ開発の初期段階だ。クリーン水素の価格も一般燃料よりも高価で商業化発電の段階に進めずにいる。 　韓国政府は初のクリーン水素市場で水素と水素化合物の混合燃焼比率を20％と提示した。 　クリーン水素発電市場は初期段階では100％水素を使った発電方式よりは、クリーン水素とLNGを一定比率混ぜたものや、クリーン水素ベースのアンモニアと石炭を混ぜたものを燃やす混合燃焼タービン発電機を使うなど、過渡的な段階を経ると見込まれる。 　韓国政府は長期的にはLNG発電で水素燃料比率100％、石炭発電ではアンモニア発電の比率を50％まで高める技術ロードマップを策定する方針だ。クリーン水素の入札市場を拡大し、2030年にはクリーン水素発電市場の規模を年間13テラワット時（TWh）、総発電量の約2％に拡大する計画だ。

韓国でクリーン水素発電の初入札　28年から供給（聯合ニュース） - Yahoo!ニュース