South Korean tech giant LG Electronics is establishing an R&D lab in Frankfurt, Germany, to develop high-efficiency HVAC products for Europe’s varied local climates.

The 930m² facility will join existing LG air labs in Changwon, South Korea, and Atlanta, Georgia, USA, to form a global R&D triangle.

The lab will focus primarily on research, and testing will be carried out on a range of residential and light commercial HVAC systems, including heat pumps, energy monitoring systems and energy management platforms through a European-focused R&D programme.

Additionally, the lab will collaborate with the company’s recently launched European Consortium for Advanced Heat Pump Research to develop heat pumps that can deliver top-tier heating performance during Northern Europe’s harsh winters. To strengthen the capabilities of its European HVAC business, LG plans to nurture and actively recruit local talent in fields such as heat pump design and smart-home technology.

The European HVAC market is expected to see significant growth in the coming years due to the European Union’s energy policies. These include the REPowerEU plan (commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/repowereu-affordable-secure-and-sustainable-energy-europe_en), which aims to reduce energy consumption, diversify energy supply, expand renewable energy sources and decrease dependence on fossil fuels by 2030. Moreover, the EU-led Green Deal policy targets significant reductions in carbon emissions by 2030, with further reductions by 2040, to achieve a carbon-neutral society by 2050.

The EU’s energy policies have significantly increased the demand for high-efficiency electrical products, particularly high-efficiency heat pump heating and cooling systems. These offer reduced carbon emissions compared with conventional fossil-fuel-driven products.

LG develops and manufactures components such as compressors and motors, essential for air conditioning products and various other appliances. The company also invests in R&D to enhance its technologies, including heat exchangers, inverters and heat pumps.

To drive B2B growth and increase management efficacy, LG’s HVAC business is developing a local system encompassing all operational areas, from R&D and sales to maintenance and customer service. As part of this initiative, LG has expanded its network of HVAC academies to 62 locations in 43 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia, training over 30,000 HVAC engineers annually.

“Along with developing differentiated HVAC tailored to Europe’s regional climates, our new air R&D lab in Frankfurt will support our ongoing global efforts in decarbonisation and electrification,” said James Lee, head of the air business unit at LG Electronics (www.lg.com/global/business/hvac). “LG will continue to strengthen its HVAC leadership in Europe and globally.”