At a rental housing site in Ridderkerk, Netherlands
Buffer tank boosts heat pump efficiency, stability
Therma V and buffer tank supplied to 102-unit apartment complex
First large-scale package order win
Leverages technology from Norway's OSO, acquired last year
The European heat pump market is growing rapidly as the shift toward eco-friendly energy accelerates. LG Electronics is looking to create synergy by packaging its heat pumps with stainless steel buffer tanks. The tanks are made by OSO, the Norwegian premium hot water solution company it acquired last year. The company achieved its first large-scale package order for a multi-unit housing project under construction in Ridderkerk, Netherlands.
At the Ridderkerk rental housing construction site visited Monday (local time), construction was underway on four apartment buildings comprising 102 units. On the rooftop of one of the buildings, which was nearing completion, LG Electronics' Therma V heat pump outdoor units stood in neat rows.
Robin Klaus, leader of the ES business at LG Electronics' Benelux subsidiary, said, "All new housing built in the Netherlands is required by design to go gas-free." He added that "the government supports a subsidy system to help achieve the goal of phasing out gas by 2050."
Like South Korea, the Netherlands has traditionally relied on gas boilers for home heating, but it now must turn to eco-friendly energy sources such as heat pumps or geothermal systems. More buildings are opting for heat pumps as they weigh the costs.
The overall European heat pump market is also expanding sharply. According to the European Heat Pump Association, heat pump sales across 16 major European countries rose more than 11 percent last year to about 2.63 million units. Global market research firm MMR Statistics projects the European heat pump market will grow to around $46 billion by 2032.
LG Electronics aims to expand its European orders with a solution that pairs Therma V with buffer tanks. Therma V uses thermal energy drawn from outside air, rather than fossil fuels, to change the state of refrigerant and supply indoor cooling, heating and hot water. Its high-efficiency inverter scroll compressor, developed in-house by LG Electronics, generates roughly four to five times more thermal energy than the electricity it consumes.
The buffer tank is a cushioning device that improves both the heating efficiency and mechanical stability of heat pump systems. It stores overheated water generated during the heating process to cool it down, or warms up stored lukewarm water as needed. This reduces unnecessary operation of the heat pump system, easing wear and load on components and minimizing energy consumption.
The buffer tank from OSO, which LG Electronics acquired last year, stands out for its high-performance insulation structure that minimizes heat loss, as well as its stainless steel construction, which lowers the risk of internal corrosion and rust.
Klaus said, "Combining the heat pump with a buffer tank solution has a decisive impact on the system's lifespan and efficiency," adding, "It also helps reduce output, raw material use and waste."
LG Electronics expects the Therma V-buffer tank package to open up greater business-to-business opportunities. Previously, construction companies had to place separate orders with heat pump solution providers and buffer tank suppliers. By designing the capacity, piping and control methods of the heat pump and buffer tank as a single integrated system, LG Electronics has improved efficiency in both installation and after-sales management. This also makes maintenance easier for customers.
LG Electronics is conducting field tests to secure global competitiveness in its heat pump business. These tests range from the frigid cold of the Nordic region to the extreme heat of the Middle East. The company operates heating, ventilation and air conditioning research labs in South Korea, which has wide seasonal temperature swings. It also runs labs in Alaska in the United States, Oslo in Norway, Harbin in China and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
Building on this competitiveness, LG Electronics has continued to win orders across Europe — a key market for residential heat pumps — beyond the Netherlands. The company has supplied heat pumps to more than 100,000 households across five southern European countries, including France and Spain. It has also delivered products to a massive residential complex of about 1,500 households in North Macedonia.
In Germany, the company is expanding supply through strategic collaboration with local installers. In the UK, it has signed a partnership with power supplier Octopus Energy for heat pump supply, broadening its business footprint across key European markets.
jeongwan@heraldcorp.com
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