Panasonic HVAC & CC Co., Ltd. has launched its outdoor CO2 refrigerant condensing units in Singapore in August 2026, expanding its commercial refrigeration business in Southeast Asia. The units use CO2 refrigerant (R744) and are designed for outdoor installation, allowing indoor space to be used for sales areas or backroom operations.
Singapore is strengthening regulations on refrigerants used in commercial refrigeration equipment as part of efforts to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Rack-type condensing units widely used in the country provide flexibility according to required refrigeration capacity but require engineering expertise and sufficient indoor space for equipment.
Panasonic’s lineup comprises six models ranging from 2 HP to 20 HP. The units are pre-assembled at the factory before shipment, reducing design workload compared with conventional rack-type systems and contributing to labor savings during on-site installation and construction. The R744 refrigerant has a GWP of 1, while the units use a Panasonic-developed compressor to operate under the high-pressure conditions required for CO2 refrigeration.
Panasonic first launched an outdoor CO2 refrigerant condensing unit in Japan in 2010. The units are now also sold in Europe and Oceania, with cumulative global shipments exceeding 39,000 units as of June 2026.
The product has been adopted at a new store operated by Singapore supermarket chain Sheng Siong. According to Panasonic HVAC & CC research, this is Singapore’s first installation of an outdoor CO2 refrigerant condensing unit using R744 as of August 27, 2026. Panasonic supplied both condensing units and display cases for the project and said it will continue expanding its business across Southeast Asia, beginning with Singapore.
