Greater Manchester’s net zero ambitions have been given a major boost by a new partnership with tech giant Panasonic to deploy innovative hydrogen fuel cell technology across the city-region.
As the regional power network operator, we're proud to be one of the partners signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) and will oversee the connection to the grid with enhancements and integration to our existing network.
Led by Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham and and Mitsutoshi Shigeta, Managing Executive Officer of Panasonic Corporation, Chief Green Transformation Officer (CGXO) the agreement was signed on Monday 15 January 2024. Other partners include SSE Energy Solutions, Manchester Metropolitan University and Carlton Power.
Strategy and Growth Director at Electricity North West, Ben Grunfeld, said: “As the region’s electricity network operator, we’ve provided expert advice and support as a partner with Greater Manchester Combined Authority for many years and are fully aligned with the region’s vision for net zero.
“Our world-class innovation and engineering expertise fits perfectly with the ambition of the region as together we lead the way internationally for a cleaner, greener future. This project is just an example of things to come as we leverage our global relationships for the good of the North West.”
Through the new partnership, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) will work with Panasonic to explore the deployment of the company’s RE100 technology at sites across Greater Manchester, including hospitals, in what are set to be the first real use cases in the UK. RE100 harnesses green hydrogen and fuel cells to supply 100 percent renewable electricity in industrial and public sector settings.
RE100 harnesses green hydrogen and fuel cells to supply 100 percent renewable electricity in industrial and public sector settings. The partnership, which is in place for five years, aims to strengthen research and innovation clusters by connecting people, ideas, and sectors, and to create jobs, attract investment, and drive growth – all of which will support Greater Manchester’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2038.
The agreement follows the landmark mission to Japan in December 2023, when Greater Manchester became the first UK city-region to lead a Mayoral mission to the country since the Government signed a Free Trade Agreement in 2020, projected to boost trade between the countries by £15.7 billion over the next 14 years.
Photo: Electricity North West's Strategy and Growth Director Ben Grunfeld (far right) with Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham and and Mitsutoshi Shigeta, Managing Executive Officer of Panasonic Corporation, Chief Green Transformation Officer (CGXO) (centre).
