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

Lisbon tests AC demand response

Lisbon City Hall is one of the test sites for the automatic demand response system

PORTUGAL: An automatic demand response system involving air conditioning and cold storage now under test in Lisbon could become a model for other European cities.

The Japanese/Portuguese project has multi-split air conditioning systems and cold storage systems installed in four public buildings, including Lisbon City Hall. During the demonstration, the upper limit of electricity consumption for the air conditioning system will be automatically controlled in response to the needs of the grid.

The project, which started this month, is planned to continue through to the end of 2019. It involves co-operation between Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO), Portugal’s National Energy and Geology Laboratory, Daikin Industries, local electric power retailers and virtual power plant (VPP) operators. 

Based on the results of this demonstration project, Daikin Industries aims to develop an air conditioning automatic demand response system in Portugal and other European regions.

Portugal is a leader in the introduction of renewable energy such as wind power generation and hydroelectric power generation. Portugal’s average renewable generation for the month of March exceeded 103% of consumption and the country is predicting that renewables will satisfy its mainland electricity needs by 2040. However, its renewable energy can be unpredictable, so Portugal still currently needs fossil fuels to even out supply.

Related stories:

Daikin in Lisbon demand response trial25 November 2016
PORTUGAL: Japanese air conditioning manufacturer Daikin is involved in an automated demand response (ADR) project in Portugal. Read more…

Latest News

22nd May 2026

EPA changes are a costly mistake

USA: The association representing US HVACR distributors has described the US EPA’s decision to roll-back refrigerant transition deadlines on commercial refrigeration as a costly mistake for the industry.
22nd May 2026

Daikin officially opens Polish heat pump plant

POLAND: Daikin Europe has officially opened its new Daikin heat pump production facility in Ksawerów, near Łódź, Poland.
21st May 2026

US EPA condemned for “reckless” act

USA: HVACR equipment manufacturers and environmental groups have both condemned today’s announcement by the US EPA to roll-back refrigerant transition deadlines on supermarket refrigeration equipment.
21st May 2026

Swegon’s Mikael Börjesson elected Eurovent president

BELGIUM: Swegon’s director of future solutions & public affairs Mikael Börjesson has been elected as the new president of Eurovent, the European association of HVACR manufacturers.
20th May 2026

Vertiv cooling refurb delivers 70% saving 

SPAIN: The modernisation of the cooling infrastructure at the Madrid HQ of sustainable infrastructure solutions company Acciona is said to have delivered a 70% reduction in energy consumption.
20th May 2026

Danfoss injector boosts CO2 refrigeration

DENMARK: Tests using Danfoss’ multi ejector high pressure (HP) technology in a transcritical CO2 booster system are said to have shown 21% energy savings over traditional CO2 booster systems.