Panasonic GREEN IMPACT in action: Large-scale solar system switched on

This week, leading representatives of ESWE, ENVIRIA and Panasonic helped push the button to activate a 1,800 square metre photovoltaic system in Wiesbaden-Biebrich. Installed on the roofs of Panasonic's warehouses, 100 tons of CO? emissions are expected to be saved annually at the premises.

Wiesbaden-Biebrich, June 14, 2023 - Ceremonial opening of a new showcase project for sustainable business. With the commissioning of the Panasonic's new photovoltaic system, which covers a total of three tennis courts, Panasonic Europe is helping to avoid large amounts of CO? emissions while significantly reducing electricity costs at its site in Germany.

In the future, the company will produce almost half (42 percent) of its on-site electricity requirements from this emission-free solar energy. Employees at the location will now also be able to charge their e-cars with 100% renewable energy. The nationwide energy service provider, ESWE Versorgung, and the Frankfurt-based solar start-up ENVIRIA, are providing support for the implementation and operation of the system.

Wiesbaden and Panasonic united in the fight against climate change

Panasonic's large-scale solar initiative should also motivate other companies to use their often underutilised roof space to produce 'green' electricity. The latest initiative at Panasonic's Wiesbaden site also fits in very well with the climate targets set by the Hessen state capital in 2019: by 2030, the city aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent compared to 1990 levels.

Wiesbaden joined the Climate Alliance back in 1995 and has been continuously committed to climate protection ever since. Panasonic, too, has long defined sustainability as fundamental to its own business activities and has committed, among other things, to reducing CO? emissions from its own operations to zero CO? emissions by 2030.

"With Panasonic GREEN IMPACT, we are pursuing a strategic vision that anchors the sustainability mission and the goal of 'Net Zero' by 2050 for the entire value chain in our business strategy. Renewable energy sources at our office and factory sites, as already used to some extent in Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and also here in Germany, are an important piece of the puzzle on this ambitious path. The large-scale solar installation here at our Wiesbaden site is one step of many which we are currently taking together with our employees, partners, and customers," explained Hideki Katayama, Managing Director of Panasonic Marketing Europe GmbH, at the inauguration of the new photovoltaic system.

Win-win for company and environment: lower CO??emissions and electricity costs

The large-scale solar installation on the roofs of the warehouses covers an area of 1,800 square meters and has a maximum output of 299 kilowatts peak. This is expected to produce 299,000-kilowatt hours of environmentally and climate-friendly solar energy per year, saving 100,000 kilograms of CO? emissions.

Panasonic plans to use around 72 percent of the electricity produced by the plant for its own needs and feed the remaining 28 percent into the grid. This ratio results, among other things, from the fact that significantly less electricity is needed than is produced on weekends and, in some cases, during the summer vacations.

"Together, we are laying the foundations today for the secure and climate-friendly energy supply of tomorrow" explains Marc Fischer, Sales Director at ESWE Versorgungs AG (Panasonic's energy service provider in Wiesbaden).?

"The energy transition can only be implemented locally in the cities and communities. This requires strong partners. We are proud that we are able to implement this important project for Panasonic and thus jointly promote a change in thinking."

At current electricity prices for commercial customers, Panasonic will be able to save a 6-digit euro amount in electricity costs each year thanks to the new photovoltaic (PV) system - this means around 30 percent lower energy costs. The investments required for this are thus expected to be refinanced within the first three and a half years.?

All in all, this is a scenario that should also be of interest to many other companies - not only in Wiesbaden. This is especially true if, as is common in many companies, the electricity is mainly needed during the day and thus no large battery storage systems are required.?

About the Panasonic Group:

Founded in 1918, the Panasonic Group is today a global leader in the development of innovative technologies and solutions for a wide range of applications in the consumer electronics, home and residential, automotive, industrial, communications technology, and energy sectors.?

On April 1, 2022, the Panasonic Group was transformed into a holding structure with eight main business units under its umbrella. The Group achieved consolidated net sales of 59.4 billion euros (8,378.9 trillion yen) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023.

Want to know more?

• This event was covered by several media from the Frankfurt and Wiesbaden area.?Links to the websites of the media outlets: (Articles in German): Wiesbadener Kurier , Wiesbaden Lebt and Frankfurter Rudschau .
• Find out more about Panasonic GREEN IMPACT on our sustainability page: Sustainability - About Us - Panasonic UK & Ireland