About Panasonic > Environmental Activities > Products > Energy-creating Products
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About Panasonic
Energy-creating Products
Contribution in reducing CO2 emissions through energy-creating products
We actively develop our energy creation business to maximize the size of contribution in reducing CO2 emissions.*1 By delivering photovoltaic power generation systems and household fuel cell cogeneration systems as means to create necessary electricity with few CO2 emissions, we reduce CO2 emissions in society.
While our initial target of the size of contribution in reducing CO2 emissions through energy-creating products was 3 million tons, the result was 2.82 million tons in fiscal 2012, driven mainly by the impacts of lower-than-expected sales of our solar panels. Approx. 99% of the result was driven by our photovoltaic power products which were sold primarily in Japan and in Europe.
We will continue to make progress toward achieving our targets which are the size of contribution in reducing CO2 emissions through energy-creating products of 3.6 million tons in fiscal 2013.
- *1 This does not include data for China and the Asia Pacific region (except India) since the amount of CO2 emissions reduced falls below zero in the regions due to a decrease in sales quantities. Also, it does not include data for India because Panasonic does not sell these products in this region.
Photovoltaic power generation system
Photovoltaic power is generated by transforming solar light energy into electricity by semiconductors. The amount of power generation depends on season, weather, and time, but unlike thermal power generation in which fossil fuels are burned to generate electricity, no CO2, exhaust gas or ash is emitted during photovoltaic power generation.
The Panasonic Group’s HIT*2 solar panels provide highpower generation efficiency and output per unit area, and are lightweight and compact, allowing sufficient power generation even with narrow roofs. In March 2012, we began taking orders for a residential solar power system, HIT240/233 Series, which is a line of household solar panels that has low energygeneration loss and current resistance, and boasts the world’s highest energy conversion efficiency rate.*3
- *2 “HIT” is a registered trademark and an original technology of the Panasonic Group.
- *3 Based on the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association standard calculation method for the amount of energy generated annually for Japan’s residential photovoltaic power generation system industry. As of January 2012 (surveyed by Panasonic).
Residential photovoltaic power generation system
Household fuel cell cogeneration system
Fuel cell cogeneration systems provide high-power energy efficiency and conservation by generating electricity through an electrochemical reaction between oxygen in the atmosphere and hydrogen extracted from city gas, and can heat water with the heat generated from the reaction at the same time.
In May 2009, we launched our household fuel cell cogeneration system named ENE-FARM in partnership with domestic gas companies to lead the world in bringing fuel cell cogeneration technology into the home for residential use. By December 2011, we shipped a total of approx. 11 thousand units. As of April 2011, we have reached a high power generating efficiency rate of 40% (LHV*4), and have further simplified our system, as well as reduced the size of key components. As a result, we have begun selling an improved model that is also better priced and requires less installation space.
- *4 Lower Heating Value: The value determined by subtracting latent heat of the water vapor from the amount of heat generated when fuel gas is fully combusted.
Household fuel cell cogeneration system
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About Panasonic > Environmental Activities > Products > Energy-creating Products