Japanese HVAC&R manufacturer Panasonic said it is seeing a strong interest in its 20HP CO2 (R744) outdoor condensing units (OCUs) in the European market, with between 10 and 20 of these larger OCUs installed across the continent as of October.
The first of the company’s 20HP OCUs to be installed outside of Japan was at an ice cream factory in Devon, England, in August. Units have since been commissioned at supermarkets in Ireland, Spain and Italy, explained José Manuel Alves, Regional Director for the U.K., Republic of Ireland and Netherlands at Panasonic Heating and Cooling Solutions Europe.
The20HP units are also well suited for restaurant and hotel cold rooms, he noted.
“We have been installing the first 20HP units in Europe, and so far they’re working very well,” Alves told NaturalRefrigerants.com in an interview at Chillventa 2024, one of the world’s largest HVAC&R trade shows, which took place in Nuremberg, Germany, October 8–10. “Our pipeline of projects is also increasing day by day.”
Panasonic announced the launch of its 20HP OCU in Europe earlier this year to meet the region’s growing demand for higher-capacity technologies. The unit was showcased at Chillventa.
The rise of OCUs
Since Panasonic launched its 2HP CO2 unit in Europe in 2017, the company has installed around 4,000 OCUs, with 1,000 installations in the past year. Much of this growth is due to a major order from a large international supermarket chain, which has driven a shift in Panasonic’s customer base, noted Gaku Shimada, General Manager of Panasonic’s Condensing Unit Engineering Department, in an interview earlier this year.
The company’s 4HP and 10HP units are also available in Europe.
While details have not yet been confirmed, Shimada said that the company is also hoping to bring its 40HP and 80HP OCUs to Europe in the future.
Replacing racks
A key trend Panasonic has observed in the European refrigeration market is the shift from centralized rack systems to condensing units.
“We’re seeing increasing interest from customers moving away from racks to OCUs for several reasons,” explained Alves. “One significant factor is the complexity and cost of replacing an entire rack system. With our OCUs, facilities can take a phased approach to upgrades, allowing for a gradual, less disruptive transition.”
“We’re seeing increasing interest from customers moving away from racks to OCUs for several reasons. One significant factor is the complexity and cost of replacing an entire rack system.”
José Manuel Alves, Regional Director for the U.K., Republic of Ireland and Netherlands at Panasonic Heating and Cooling Solutions Europe
He also highlighted the advantages of OCUs in terms of redundancy.
“If one OCU experiences an issue, the others can maintain operations, minimizing downtime,” said Alves. “In contrast, a single breakdown in a centralized rack system can affect the entire facility. We also see an impact on insurance and liabilities, with a preference for modular units.”
In addition to easier system upgrades and improved reliability, Alves noted several other advantages that make Panasonic’s OCUs appealing to European end users and contractors alike. Installers appreciate that the units are compact and easy to install, while end users appreciate the use of a natural refrigerant.
“These units offer several seemingly small benefits, but when combined, they have a significant impact,” he said.
Larger R290 heat pumps
Interest in higher-capacity units extends beyond refrigeration to heat pumps and chillers, said Alves. To meet this growing demand, Panasonic is launching three larger models of its propane (R290) Aquarea heat pumps – called Big Aquarea – for commercial applications.
This addition extends the range’s maximum capacity from 16kW (4.5TR) to 30kW (8.5TR), with 20kW (5.7TR) and 25kW (7.1TR) units also available from next month.
