LG HOSTS GLOBAL HEAT PUMP CONSORTIUM IN SEOUL TO ENHANCE HVAC TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATION

A Joint Effort Between LG and Top Research Universities, Consortium to Accelerate the Development of Next-Generation Heat Pump and Establish Industry Standards

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics (LG) is hosting the first-ever meeting of the Global Heat Pump Consortium in Seoul, South Korea, from September 23-26. A cooperative venture between LG and a growing number of international universities, the consortium is focused on developing new, more efficient heat pump technologies, including solutions designed to handle harsh climatic conditions. The event brings together LG personnel and academics from participating universities to introduce heat pump technologies and discuss industry-academia projects being conducted by each of the consortium’s regional clusters.

The Global Heat Pump Consortium comprises LG-led heat pump R&D consortiums established in Alaska, USA (November 2023) and in Oslo, Norway, and Harbin, China (June and August of 2024, respectively). The consortium also includes a South Korean cluster, with LG working collaboratively with respected universities in Seoul and Busan to drive heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) innovation.

On the first day of the event, LG introduced key heat pump technologies and products from its industry-leading lineup of high-efficiency HVAC solutions. Each regional consortium then provided an update on its specific research tasks and shared its current progress in evaluating high-performance heat pump tech for challenging climates. The inaugural meeting of the global consortium is also offering attendees valuable learning opportunities, with seminars and discussions on topics including the latest HVAC industry and market trends, and future technologies for region-specific heat pump solutions.

Through cooperating with universities known for their top-tier HVAC research programs, LG is strengthening its own R&D capabilities and accelerating the development of the next generation of heat pumps. The company anticipates that the groundbreaking work being carried out by the consortium will also help strengthen its competitiveness in the global heating and cooling solutions market.

Internationally, the demand for high-efficiency, low-carbon-emission heat pumps is rapidly increasing, in large part due to the worldwide electrification and decarbonization trends. Solidifying its status as a technology leader and responsible corporate citizen, LG is leveraging its cutting-edge heat pump technology to deliver region-specific heating and cooling solutions for the North American, European and Asian HVAC markets.

At an investor forum in August, LG highlighted "B2B acceleration" as one of its four key strategies for business portfolio innovation. The HVAC business, a major component of the company’s diverse B2B portfolio, has become a market leader based on the strength of its advanced, highly-efficient core technologies, such as inverter compressors, heat exchangers and AI engines.

Around the globe, LG is enhancing the capabilities of its HVAC business through creating locally complete systems encompassing R&D, sales, manufacturing and maintenance. In addition, the company currently operates five Air Solution Research Labs – with facilities located in Korea, North America, Europe and India – and has a network of HVAC academies spanning 43 countries and training over 30,000 engineers annually.

"We are committed to accelerating our HVAC business, with heat pump innovation as the cornerstone of our vision," said James Lee, head of the Air Solution Business Unit at LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. "Through the Global Heat Pump Consortium, we aim to lead the HVAC industry with decarbonization solutions aligned with the global electrification trend."

About LG Electronics Air Solution Business Unit

LG air conditioning provides optimized solutions for every sector and climate with a wide range of cutting-edge systems that bring exceptional heating, ventilation and air conditioning performance to buildings worldwide. Through our unmatched expertise and industry knowledge, we respond directly to the needs of businesses seeking digitalized HVAC solutions. We are the partner your business has been looking for, and are well prepared to integrate our leading technology into your day-to-day operations, supporting you and your business every step of the way. For more information, please visit www.lg.com/global/business/hvac.