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Panasonic to Commence Total Energy Solution Test-Bed Project for Public Housing in Singapore

Singapore, Aug 1, 2011 - (ACN Newswire) - Panasonic Corporation today announced that it has agreed with the government of the Republic of Singapore to collaborate on the development and field-testing of total energy solutions at Punggol Eco-Town over the next two years. The company and Singapore's Housing & Development Board, Energy Market Authority and Economic Development Board will work together to improve energy efficiency of an existing public residential building in the eco town, using Panasonic's total energy solutions that create and save energy as well as manage power usage.

Through this agreement, Panasonic will promote its total energy solutions business in the country to help reduce energy consumption and spread the use of renewable energy and the concept of producing energy for local use. In addition, using experience and know-how it will gain from this project in a tropical country, Panasonic intends to further promote its total energy solutions business in other Southeast Asian countries.

In this project, Panasonic aims to provide total energy solutions tailored to the building that enable local energy generation for local consumption for the building's common facilities. Rooftop photovoltaic systems and lithium-ion batteries will be combined to create and store energy. In case of a power outage, the batteries will also serve as a backup energy source for such facilities as lighting in the common areas, elevators and water pumps installed in the building.

The total energy solutions will also be designed to implement demand response(1) by combining smart meters with Home Energy Management System (HEMS). Each household will have an in-home display (IHD)(2) so that the user can view how much electricity, water or gas is being used. Demandresponse will be achieved through Smart Energy Gateway (SEG)(3) which connects the smart meter and home appliances, such as air-conditioners.

To realize the above total energy solutions, Panasonic will develop and evaluate energy creation and storage technologies that can work in tropical climates. The field-testing will also enable to evaluate the network performance when smart meters are introduced in the existing public residential building. Technologies that enable demand response through the combined use of smart meters and HEMS will also be developed, and their energy-efficiency and comfort level will be evaluated.

Panasonic continues to contribute to society through its unique and total energy solutions that marry its energytechnologies with a safe and secure living environment.

(1) Demand response is a system to control the energy consumption in a household or office through a smart meter, in the case of energy unbalance between supply and demand. It will be ableto decrease the energy consumption by way of peak cut or peak shift programs.
(2) In-home displays visualize smart meter data such as power consumption of air-conditioners.
(3) Smart Energy Gateway is an equipment to link to the smart meter and home appliances and realize optimal home energy usage in each household.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 8.69 trillion yen (US$105 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2011. The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE: PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company's website at http://panasonic.net.

Source: Panasonic

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