Reducing CO₂ Emissions in Factories

Nishikinohama Factory, Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd. has achieved net zero CO₂ emissions^*5 since fiscal 2024 when it started operation of photovoltaic panels installed over the entire rooftop for maximum use of renewable energy, aiming at manufacturing in harmony with the environment. For introducing a 2 MW-class photovoltaic power generation system, a new method that does not require significant remodeling works of the transformer substation in the factory was invented and introduced, which contributed to achievement of significant reduction in the construction costs and the construction period.^*6 The factory will further accelerate efficient and clean manufacturing by implementing energy management for the entire factory through installation of pure hydrogen fuel cell generators and energy storage systems for.

Panasonic Corporation is conducting a demonstration experiment of the energy solution (Panasonic HX)^*13 using hydrogen fuel cells in Kusatsu Factory, Shiga.  Panasonic Manufacturing United Kingdom (PMUK) in the United Kingdom plans to start a demonstration of power supply and demand operation in 2025^*14 to use 100% renewable energy for energy consumed in business activities by in-house power generation using pure hydrogen fuel cells and photovoltaic cells. For the demonstration at PMUK, in addition to the existing solar panels (372kW), 21 pure hydrogen fuel cells of 5 kW type (total output: 105 kW), and storage batteries (1 MWh) will be newly installed, and the power supply and demand operation in Cardiff, UK will be monitored according to the changes in weather and fluctuations in electrical power demand, with the aim of operation to supply necessary electricity with 100% renewable energy for the Microwave Oven manufacturing plant.
By using pure hydrogen fuel cells, we will not only reduce installation space and secure a stable power source, but also further improve energy efficiency by using heat generated during hydrogen power generation for heating and hot water supply. Through the demonstration of energy solutions at PMUK, we will develop solutions that best suit the regional characteristics and build relationships with local partners and business customers related to the hydrogen business.

*12 METAGEJI is a coined word created by the Panasonic Group which refers to visualizing energy consumption and implementing measurable reduction measures by adopting measurement instruments, such as meters and gauges.
*13 Panasonic HX
https://re100-gx.panasonic.com/
*14 Press Release (December 3, 2024)
https://news.panasonic.com/jp/press/jn241203-2

Panasonic Energy Kaizuka Co., Ltd., which achieved net zero CO₂ emission in fiscal 2025,produces lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) used in EVs. The company has been working across organizational divisions to reduce its CO₂ emissions in line with Panasonic GREEN IMPACT, while improving productivity to respond to the increasing market demands for EVs in recent years. A Carbon Neutrality Promotion Committee, initiated by the Facility Management Division that manages facilities such as power generators, was jointly launched at three sites: the Panasonic Energy Suminoe Factory, Wakayama Factory, and Kaizuka Factory. This committee, whose participants include professionals in the fields of factory and production technologies, has been promoting production with minimum energy. Concretely, to reduce energy consumption in basic units by increasing product efficiency, they used scientific methods to established efficient drying conditions in the manufacturing process for electrode materials, which had been a bottleneck in improving efficiency in the production of electrode substrates, allowing the manufacturing speed to be increased. This method can be transferred to overseas factories such as in the U.S., where LIBs are produced on a large scale, and it is planned to introduce it on other sites from fiscal 2025. We also reduced the standby energy consumption of the charging and discharging devices used during testing by reviewing the operating procedures and eliminating unnecessary processes. To increase the ratio of renewable energy used inside and outside our factory premises, we have started to introduce photovoltaic power stations to our factory premises, purchasing photovoltaic electricity sourced from outside the factory through an offsite PPA. In fiscal 2025, we started to purchase wind power electricity through an offsite PPA.

The long-term state policy announced by the Chinese government includes carbon peak out and carbon neutrality, focusing on further reductions to CO₂ emissions. With its many business sites in China, the Panasonic Group introduced a three-year energy-saving support initiative in the country in fiscal 2023 designed to achieve efficient energy-savings across the entire region in line with China's long-term state policy. In fiscal 2025 we are lowering CO₂ emissions at our model sites by carrying out energy-saving assessments in collaboration with experts from inside and outside the Group and developing human resources to introduce independence in support of energy conservation in each region. We select and actively communicate best practices gained from the energy saving diagnoses, and provide a scheme that links facility manufacturers and our sites to solve technical issues. These efforts support each site in utilizing information comprehensively for its own energy saving activities. We are also working on visualizing our energy-saving activities and how to disseminate the information effectively, improving the infrastructure for energy efficiency by installing portable measurement equipment and providing energy efficiency analysis tools, etc. In working to establish net zero factories, we continue with our rapid and low cost energy-saving measures to improve the level of energy saving in China's regions.