Panasonic releases new product for homes using natural refrigerant
Panasonic Corporation announced that its Heating & Ventilation A/C Company is expediting its growth strategy for its air-to-water (A2W) heat pumps business in Europe. The company plans to release three new environmentally conscious models for homes (with different heating capacities) using natural refrigerants in Europe in May 2023, a first for a Japanese manufacturer, and to more than double the lineup by fiscal year ending in March 2026. To meet active demand it is investing approximately 50 billion yen up to fiscal year ending in March 2026 to enhance production capacity at both its factories in the Czech Republic and Malaysia and to boost technology development capabilities at its new R&D Center and expand its cloud-based maintenance solutions business and marketing.
A2W is a heating system that captures heat from the air to create hot water for use in homes. Demand in Europe is growing owing to its lower environmental impact due to less CO2 emissions compared to fossil fuel-using heaters.
Panasonic began sales in Europe in 2008 of its A2W Aquarea, developed based on energy-saving technology refined with its Eco Cute and air conditioners. Key features include its heating function which remains unchanged even in cold regions and can be used for cooling in warmer areas. Remote monitoring services are provided via the cloud.
In May 2023 Panasonic will be the first Japanese manufacturer to release three new home models (with different heating capacities) of A2W using R290, a natural refrigerant with extremely low greenhouse impacts. The plan is to more than double the lineup by fiscal year ending in March 2026.