LG Electronics, Harbin Heat Pump Consortium in China... "Completing the Cold Region R&D Triangle"

Consortium Established with Harbin Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Xi'an Jiaotong University
Securing Next-Generation Heat Pump R&D Infrastructure in North America, Europe, and Asia
Collecting HVAC Performance and Energy Efficiency Data in Harbin and Mohe

LG Electronics has established a next-generation heat pump core technology consortium in Asia, following North America and Europe. This completes a global research and development (R&D) triangle foothold to expand its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) business.

LG Electronics officials are taking a commemorative photo at the signing ceremony of the "China Advanced Heat Pump Research Consortium" held at Harbin Institute of Technology in China on the 31st of last month.
From the left: Wu Jian, Consortium Operating Chairman; Liu Ting, Vice President of Harbin Institute of Technology; Lee Jae-sung, Vice President and Head of Air Solution Division, H&A (Home Appliance & Air Solution) Business Unit, LG Electronics; Jin Xinwon, Executive Director and Head of Air Solution Research Institute, H&A Division, LG Electronics.
[Photo by LG Electronics]

LG Electronics announced on the 1st that it held the 'China Advanced Heat Pump Research Consortium (CCAHR)' agreement ceremony at Harbin Institute of Technology in China on the 31st of last month (local time). This is to secure heat pump technology that delivers high performance in extreme cold.

The consortium includes LG Electronics and key HVAC technology research teams from Harbin Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Xi'an Jiaotong University. They operate new research facilities in Harbin and Mohe, China.

LG Electronics established its third heat pump consortium in Harbin, China, following Alaska, USA in November last year and Oslo, Norway in June this year. It has secured next-generation heat pump R&D infrastructure that considers diverse regional climate characteristics and housing structures in Asia, following North America and Europe.

The Alaska laboratory is designed like an actual residential space and tests products such as heat pump heating and cooling systems and heat pump water heaters. The Oslo laboratory conducts research specialized for a climate environment with humidity much higher than Alaska’s, although the temperatures are similar.

In cold regions, it is difficult to increase heating performance because the pressure to compress the refrigerant decreases. Harbin’s winter environment is known to be harsh. Mohe is the northernmost region in China, having recorded temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius. This means it is an ideal environment for heat pump technology research. The consortium tests LG Electronics’ major HVAC products, including residential air conditioners, and collects data on heating performance and energy efficiency.

LG Electronics is targeting the HVAC market with regionally customized heating and cooling solutions in North America, Europe, and Asia. In particular, high-efficiency heat pumps that can reduce carbon emissions are seeing rapidly increasing demand amid global electrification and eco-friendly trends.

Global Status of LG Electronics HVAC Business.
[Photo by LG Electronics]

CEO Cho Joo-wan held an 'Investor Forum' last month and presented four major directions for business portfolio innovation: maximizing growth of existing businesses, platform-based service business, accelerating business-to-business (B2B), and fostering new businesses.

The HVAC business, a key pillar of B2B acceleration, leads the high-efficiency and eco-friendly market by internalizing core components such as compressors, fans, heat exchangers with inverter technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) engines. It is also actively targeting the cooling system market, including chillers, which have recently gained attention as AI data center thermal management solutions, continuing rapid growth.

LG Electronics is accelerating the establishment of a 'local completion system,' performing all stages from R&D to sales and maintenance locally. It operates five air solution research centers in Korea, North America, Europe, and India. It has HVAC academies in 43 countries and 62 regions, training over 30,000 engineers annually.

According to market research firm IBISWorld, the global HVAC market size was estimated at approximately $58.4 billion (about 78.2 trillion KRW) last year and is expected to grow to $61 billion (about 81.7 trillion KRW) by 2028.

Lee Jae-sung, Vice President and Head of Air Solution Business at LG Electronics’ H&A (Home Appliance & Air Solution) Business Division, said, "We will target the global air conditioning market by providing differentiated solutions through the development of next-generation heat pump technology specialized for major global markets."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.