Osaka, Japan - Panasonic Corporation announced today that it will accelerate initiatives to achieve a sustainable society by utilizing hydrogen energy through the application of its technologies developed for residential fuel cells. The company first plans to commercialize hydrogen fuel cell generators by around April 2021.

In May 2009 in Japan, Panasonic became the first in the world to start selling residential fuel cells that generate power from hydrogen extracted from natural gas. It was followed by the company's consistent efforts to achieve improved power generation endurance time, downsizing, enhanced efficiency, improved ease of installation, the addition of a resilience function, and cost reductions. As a result, the cumulative production quantity exceeded 140,000 units.1 Based on this achievement, the company has also been working to develop hydrogen fuel cell generators and conducting field tests since 2016 by participating in such projects as the Yume Solar Kan Yamanashi in Yamanashi Prefecture and Shizuoka Hydrogen Town in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The hydrogen fuel cell generators to be commercialized will have a power generation output of 5 kW and are expected to be used at hydrogen stations, commercial facilities, etc. Linking the operations of these generators will also enable the adjustment of output in accordance with the scale of facilities.

Panasonic is currently developing hydrogen fuel cell generators and plans to deliver them to HARUMI FLAG, the Type 1 Urban Area Redevelopment Project undertaken by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in the Harumi 5-chome West District.

[ Target specifications of hydrogen fuel cell generators ]

Power generation output 5 kW Rated power generation efficiency 57 % (LHV) Main body size 900 mm (W) x 500 mm (D) x 1,800 mm (H) Weight Approx. 250 kg Output method Mono-generation2 / Co-generation3

In addition to evolving technologies for efficient hydrogen use, Panasonic will also implement full-fledged development of technologies for producing hydrogen from natural gas or natural energy and water and technologies for storing hydrogen safely and densely. Specifically, the company will work on developing small and high efficiency hydrogen production equipment that utilizes the fuel processing technology developed for extracting hydrogen from natural gas for residential fuel cells. This initiative aims to achieve the practical use of systems that enable the stable supply of hydrogen to factories and small logistics facilities without large-scale hydrogen stations.

Panasonic will make comprehensive contributions to achieving a society that can maximize the utilization of hydrogen energy.

Notes:

1. Achieved in June 2018

2. Method that uses only generated electric power

3. Method that uses hot water heated by thermal energy generated during power generation, in addition to generated electric power