Does Panasonic’s integrated in-house model hold the key to industrial transition? | Hydrogen

© Panasonic / The Cardiff plant demonstrates the potential of integrating different renewable energy sources

© Panasonic / The Cardiff plant demonstrates the potential of integrating different renewable energy sources

There hasn’t been a great deal of Christmas cheer surrounding hydrogen, nor for that matter, most of 2024. Regulatory, cost and offtake pressures have combined to give the impression that it’s been a lost year.

While these broader issues remain stubbornly difficult to overcome, the perception is inaccurate as there has been tangible progress – a fact that was underlined only last week by Panasonic opening its HX Renewble Energy Demonstration facility in Cardiff, south Wales.

Panasonic was faced with issues common to many manufacturers, principally how best to turn a 50-year-old legacy plant into a modern, renewables-focused operation.

It considered the different technologies and didn’t plump for one, but three, by combining hydrogen fuel cells powered by green hydrogen, solar PV and battery storage, all steered by Panasonic’s proprietary Energy Management System (EMS).