Panasonic and Yanmar to Launch Joint Venture for Gas Heat Pump Air Conditioners
Japan: Panasonic Corporation's Air Quality and Conditioning Company and Yanmar Energy Systems Co., Ltd. have agreed to establish a joint venture for developing and manufacturing outdoor units for gas heat pump air conditioners (GHP), aiming for a launch in the spring of 2026. GHPs, which use a gas engine to drive a compressor, consume about one-tenth the power of electric heat pumps and have been vital in reducing power peaks during summer. The joint venture will leverage Panasonic's refrigerant technology and Yanmar's engine technology to improve development efficiency and meet societal demands for energy saving and decarbonization.
The collaboration follows the companies' shared commitment to carbon neutrality, building on their partnership in distributed energy business since December 2022. The joint venture aims to create a stable production system by utilizing Panasonic's factory in Gunma Prefecture and Yanmar's factory in Okayama Prefecture. The GHP outdoor units developed by the joint venture will retain the brands, sales, and services of both companies, each continuing their existing businesses independently.
Source: Panasonic