The new Panasonic TVs will use as much power as an LCD TV by 2009, which is marginally less than a plasma panel, said Panasonic senior managing director, Toshihiro Sakamoto, as reported by Nikkei Business Publications in Japan.

The plan was revealed at the strategy meeting on PDP business and the factory tour at the company's PDP plant in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, according to Nikkei.

There have been calls by various environmentalist groups around the world for governments to create standards governing TV power output, especially since the new breed of flatscreen TVs has heightened the power consumption used in homes and retail stores.

In January 2008, Panasonic created ‘Neo PDP' technology which doubles plasma's luminous efficiency.

This technology, when incorporated in Panasonic plasmas, will reduce the power output without affecting the brightness.