World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

AC heat pumps outsell condensing boilers

FRANCE: UK-based market intelligence company BSRIA has revealed that air-air air-conditioning/heat pump units outsold condensing boilers in France last year.

BSRIA estimates that the market for ducted and un-ducted single splits, multi splits, and VRF had increased to 589,000 units in 2018, while 532,000 condensing boilers were sold.

This is seen as an important milestone for the air conditioning industry, which is expecting a further sharp upturn in growth, with sales of air-air splits soaring to a record 700,000 units sold.

This rate of growth is also having an impact on the level of HFC refrigerants in the market. BSRIA estimates that in 2018, about 880 tonnes of R410A were sold with splits and VRF. This includes the factory charge, as well as the refrigerant charge in pipes as part of the installation of each product. This compares with 257 tonnes of the lower GWP alternative R32. For the moment, R32 is only used in France with units below 5hp, corresponding to about 14kW of cooling capacity.

BSRIA’s market reports can be accessed here.

Latest News

24th June 2026

Air conditioned bench under trial

JAPAN: Daikin is one of the companies behind the trial of an air-conditioned bench for urban outdoor public spaces.
24th June 2026

CCC backs more support for heat pumps

UK: The UK government’s Climate Change Committee claims a more ambitious plan is needed to electrify key parts of the UK economy, including further action to reduce electricity costs.
23rd June 2026

Enex signs €35.5m ESG-linked refinancing facility

ITALY: Enex Technologies, the Treviso-based industrial and commercial cooling equipment manufacturer, has signed a €35.5m ESG-linked refinancing agreement.
23rd June 2026

Rainer Grosse-Kracht named EPEE president

BELGIUM: Rainer Grosse-Kracht, chief technology officer at compressor manufacturer Bitzer, has been named as president of the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE).
22nd June 2026

Green group calls for end to subsidies for EVs using R1234yf

GERMANY: The influential German environmental aid association Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) is calling on the German government to end subsidies for electric cars with R1234yf refrigerants in their AC systems.
22nd June 2026

Daikin agrees $8.5m penalty over hazardous PTAC

USA: Daikin has agreed to pay an $8.5m civil penalty for failing to immediately report that one of its US-made Amana packaged terminal air conditioners could overheat.