LG Expanding Research Into Cold-Climate Heat Pumps

(Courtesy of LG Air Conditioning Technologies)

SEOUL, South Korea — LG Electronics is establishing a global triangle connecting North America, Europe, and Asia in order to research and develop next-generation heat pumps designed for cold climates.

The company aims to develop regionally specialized core technologies, optimized for the cold climate of Northern Europe, through the newly established European Consortium for Advanced Heat Pump Research (ECAHR).

LG held a June 18 ceremony at the main auditorium of Oslo Metropolitan University in Norway to mark the start of the consortium, a press release from LG said. Members include Oslo Metropolitan University, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and the University of Naples Federico II in Italy.

During the winter of this year, Northern Europe experienced record-breaking cold weather, with temperatures dropping below -40°C. In such temperatures, achieving high heating efficiency is challenging due to the difficulty of compressing refrigerants at lower pressures. The consortium intends to address this issue by developing heat pumps that deliver top-tier heating performance in extreme cold, LG’s press release said.

The collaboration with the European universities follows the founding of the LG Advanced Cold Climate Heat Pump Laboratory in Alaska last year. Beginning in August, LG plans to expand its research on cold-climate heat pumps to Harbin, China, in partnership with a Chinese university.

The company is also looking to enhance core technologies to lead global electrification efforts and expand supplemental heating availability in Europe.

In 2022, the European Union launched the REPowerEU plan, aiming to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and expand new and renewable energy sources by 2030. As a result, the demand for high-efficiency electric appliances and heat-pump heating and cooling systems has surged across Europe, fueling efforts to lower energy consumption and achieve carbon neutrality, LG said.

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LG is also in the process of establishing a comprehensive local operation system for its HVAC business, which is expected to drive growth in its business-to-business operations, the company said.

“We aim to expand our presence around the world by developing next-generation heat- pump technology tailored to the diverse climate conditions of each region,” said James Lee, head of the air solution business unit at LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Co. “We will continue to expand our footprint in the global market, adding value to drive growth in our HVAC business.”