Panasonic’s green community in Yokohama, scheduled to open in 2018, will reduce carbon emissions by nearly half through a power-sharing system, according to concept designs.

Reports said the Tsunashima Sustainable Smart Town will be built on the site of a former Panasonic cellphone plant.  An international consortium of 10 groups, including Panasonic, is overseeing the project.

On-site installations will be powered by a next-generation energy system in which electricity and heat are shared among facilities.

Tokyo Gas, in collaboration with JX Nippon Oil & Energy, will provide the service using the city’s gas supply. Future power-generation projects will make use of hydrogen.

The aim is to shrink carbon dioxide emissions by 40% in fiscal 2018 compared with 13 years earlier. At least 30% of all energy consumed by the Smart City is to be generated within the premises, with solar power playing a major role.

Apart from commercial facilities, the 37,900-sq.-metre complex will house an Apple research facility set to be completed in fiscal 2016. Nomura Real Estate Development will construct condominiums. Keio University will establish a dorm for international students on the site, adding an academic link to the public-private job-creation effort.

“We would like to see this company’s technology be put to full use in creating a town Japan can boast about to the world,” said Panasonic President Kazuhiro Tsuga.