LG Electronics is establishing a test facility in Saudi Arabia to explore how smart HVAC systems can best handle tropical climates.

LG is working with King Saud University (KSU), Pusan National University (PNU) and Shaker Group to discuss joint cooperation in the academic and research fields including the establishment of a tropical test site for HVAC in Saudi Arabia.

Working with Shaker – the Saudi Arabian market leader in HVAC – and its university partners, LG aims to drive the development of innovative temperature control systems for tropical climates.

In 2024, under the auspices of the Consortium for Advanced Heat Pump Research (CAHR), LG opened labs in the USA, Europe and China to create and test cold-climate heat pump technologies. The planned Saudi Arabian laboratory will be the company’s first facility dedicated to accelerating HVAC technology for regions with tropical climates.

Findings from the research conducted at the new lab will be presented to the relevant regional academic societies by KSU and PNU. The results of research projects undertaken at the consortium’s Alaska-based lab were shared at AHR Expo 2025 in Orlando, Florida, earlier this year.

At the Saudi Arabian test facility, LG aims to collect real-world data by operating and assessing various options tailored for tropical conditions. Each participating party will have specific duties to perform.

KSU (ksu.edu.sa), one of the Middle East’s most renowned universities, will provide a suitable test site environment and, in collaboration with PNU (www.pusan.ac.kr), take responsibility for conducting studies and analysing data. LG and PNU already have a strong relationship and have been working together in South Korea to research core HVAC technologies, such as high-efficiency heat exchangers. Shaker (shaker.com.sa), a partner to LG for many years, will offer its support via system installation and device setup monitoring.

Once operational, the facility will be used to examine the performance and reliability of LG’s upcoming HVAC products, including the Multi V intelligent variable refrigerant flow (VRF) offering designed to handle hot temperatures and various wall-mounted residential air conditioners. LG is working to develop these HVAC products and aims to complete them soon. Additionally, the company plans to use the site for testing AI engine features tailored to tropical climates.

“This exciting new collaboration will help LG to further its leadership in HVAC innovations designed for tropical climates,” said Jin Sim-won, head of the R&D division at LG. “The data and insights we gain from the tropical region will help us deliver more efficient, intelligent and reliable options tailored to the world’s hotter regions.”

LG (www.lg.com/global/business/hvac) offers air conditioning systems, including chillers, for diverse sectors and climates.