Iwatani regards solar power generation, fuel cells using LP gas (Ene-Farm), LP gas emergency power generators, LNG, LP gas bi-fuel vehicles as environment-friendly products and is expanding this as the core of its integrated energy business.

The company, the largest LP gas supplier in Japan, is basically engaged in sales for home use using LP gas for both PV power generation facilities and Ene-Farms. Its sales of solar cell power generation facilities amounts to 1,000 units a year, and it is aiming at expanding this at the rate of about 10% a year. Only solar panel produced by Japanese makers are handled. It obtains the training to implement this from Sharp, Kyocera, Solar Frontier, and Mitsubishi Electric.

By the end of March of this year orders received for Ene-Farms had increased by 2.4 fold over the previous year. “We will be expanding sales to homes where they are already installed, and will become involved in sales of systems which combine these with PV power generation facilities,” noted a member of the Corporate Sales Bureau.

Developed in conjunction with Denyo, its emergency power generation facilities using LP gas are doing quite well, and the company has ascertained that for 2012 it will sell its full production capacity of 400 units. Numerous orders are coming in for LP gas and filling stations for LP gas for medical use. This testifies to the awareness of these as core measures against power outages since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Requirements for these will be high.

Amidst the gasoline shortage which arose directly after the disaster, LP gas vehicles and gasoline bio fuel vehicles played an important role in the transportation of materials. The goal is to increase them at the rate of 40% year in 2012 and from 2013 on.

Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, the situation regarding LP gas has changed completely. Not only its environmental products business, Iwatani will also be expanding its environment-friendly products linked to energy saving such as geothermal heat pumps (GHP) and cogeneration.