Panasonic Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Local Partners to Accelerate Net Zero Transition

Manchester, United Kingdom – On January 15, 2024, Panasonic Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a new partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and local partners in Greater Manchester, UK, aiming to be carbon neutral by 2038.
In the signing ceremony at the office of Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Mayor of Greater Manchester (GM), Andy Burnham, Managing Executive Officer (CGXO) and Vice President/Energy Business, Electric Works Company of Panasonic Corporation, Mitsutoshi Shigeta, and representatives of local partners, signed the MoU.

This MoU aims to explore the future deployment of RE100 solutions, using green hydrogen and pure hydrogen fuel cells at locations within the GM region, and to create a chain of innovation by connecting people, ideas, and sectors of industry, academia, and government. The aim is to create jobs and investment and promote growth.

In addition to Panasonic and GMCA, a range of local partners signed the MoU. SSE Energy Solutions will help identify potential trial sites and provide energy infrastructure and generation required, Electricity North West will oversee power grid connectivity and enhancements to the existing network, Manchester Metropolitan University will conduct cutting-edge research towards hydrogen and fuel cell industrialization, and Carlton Power will provide green hydrogen from its Trafford scheme.

Upon signing the agreement, Managing Executive Officer/CGXO Shigeta said, “Starting from a GM delegation’s visit to the RE100 facility at Panasonic’s Kusatsu site, in December last year, I highly appreciate GM’s strong willingness to collaborate with us on the projects that GM aims to achieve its decarbonization goals by 2038.

“By working together with GM, which transformed the world during the industrial revolution, we believe that we are able to make a wide range of contributions to Greater Manchester’s Carbon Neutral target by 2038 as a global company with the products and solutions that can contribute to decarbonization and energy saving, beginning from hydrogen fuel cells.

“We will work closely with GMCA and three companies and one research institution to accelerate this activity and make it more concrete.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “The partnership we’ve agreed today puts Greater Manchester at the forefront of groundbreaking new technology to reduce carbon emissions. I’m excited for a future where our hospitals and businesses are powered through 100 percent renewable energy, making a positive difference to the city-region and the daily lives of Greater Manchester residents.

“Collaboration and innovation will be vital if we are to succeed in our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2038, and this partnership proves the benefits of our international approach to delivering net zero.

“Working with Panasonic and our other partners will also provide a strong foundation for more opportunities to bring green jobs, skills, and investment to Greater Manchester.”