LG has found that Norway can be well suited for testing such heat pumps, and has got both OsloMet and NTNU on board.
Also involved is the University of Naples Federico II in Italy, which also conducts research on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in cold climates.
The agreement with OsloMet was signed on 18 June at Pilestredet 35 in Oslo.
In a press release, LG emphasizes that this development work is very relevant:
During the winter of 2024, Northern Europe experienced record cold weather, with temperatures falling below minus 40 degrees Celsius in some places. In these locations, it is challenging to achieve high heating efficiency with heat pumps due to difficulties in compressing refrigerants at lower pressures.
To solve this, LG would establish a collaboration with other institutions to develop heat pumps that deliver top-level heating performance even in extremely cold conditions.
Furthermore, the company wants to improve its core technologies to lead the global electrification effort and expand the availability of supplementary heating in Europe.
Sustainable development
The collaboration with OsloMet will primarily involve the Department of Built Environment (BE) at OsloMet.
“This collaboration is in line with the department's research and teaching goals, as well as Norway's ambitious goals for sustainable development,” says head of department Yonas Zewdu Ayele.
“We want to be a leader in research into efficient and clean energy solutions. The collaboration between the institute at OsloMet and LG Electronics marks a significant step forward in this work.”
“Together we are establishing a partnership that can make significant progress in research into cold climates, heat pumps and cooling technology.”
“This initiative will not only benefit the institute, OsloMet and LG Electronics, but also contribute to Norway's path towards a more sustainable future,” says Ayele.
The picture at the top of the article shows Pro-rector for a research and development at OsloMet, Tanja Storsul, and Executive Vice President, LG Air Solution CEO Jame Lee.
