Madrid, February 14, 2023. AFEC, Association of Air Conditioning Equipment Manufacturers, today presented to the media and members of the public administration, the HVAC and air conditioning market report for the year 2022.

The meeting, which took place at the headquarters of UNE (Spanish Association for Standardization), was attended by Javier García, general director of UNE, who welcomed the attendees and explained the value of standards in the industry; Federico Muñoz, deputy managing director of CEIS (Center for Testing, Innovation and Services), who stressed the importance of certification and conformity assessment of equipment in the air conditioning sector, especially given the technological transformation and the rise of some solutions, such as heat pump; and Maria Valcarce, director of the International Exhibition of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, to make a brief introduction to the call for the next edition of the fair C & R in November this year.

Giving voice to AFEC were the president Francisco Perucho; two of the presidents of the market committees: the former president of AFEC Luis Mena, and Miguel Lautour; and the general manager Marta San Roman. Among all made a review of the market report AFEC market, which collects aggregate data production equipment for heating, cooling and domestic hot water; distribution and air distribution and diffusion; ventilation; residential ventilation; and air handling units.

After reviewing the main keys to 2022, which include the economic environment, uncertainty, concern about environmental health and indoor air quality, the advancement of aerotermia and geothermal energy, the return to the presence of major international fairs, etc., were highlighted the main legislative texts that influenced the industry last year, and those that will have greater relevance in 2023, both nationally and internationally.

The methodology of AFEC's statistical analysis of the air conditioning market was then explained: with a track record of more than 15 years, they have achieved a recognized prestige, thanks to their independent nature and objectivity, as well as the reliability of the data, and has evolved, both in the number of participants, which has been increasing, thus achieving a great representativeness of the sector, and in ranges of solutions, to adapt to the state-of-the-art of technology and market needs.

The results of these studies show a total market growth of 21% in value.

In the case of air conditioning, heat pump and domestic hot water production equipment, the growth in turnover was 24% compared to 2021. In the residential/domestic sector the figures for 2022 were 978,958 units sold worth €739.12 million.

The sales development of aerothermal heat pumps (air-to-water, including those for domestic hot water production) continues to be very positive. In 2022, air-water equipment has gone from representing 16% in value in 2021, to having a weight on the total invoiced of 20% with respect to the total market of air conditioning equipment, heat pumps and acs production, which confirms the boom of this technology as a combined heating, cooling and domestic hot water production system.

The evolution of sales of aerothermal heat pumps (air-to-water, including those for domestic hot water production) continues to be very positive. In 2022, air-water equipment has gone from representing 16% in value in 2021, to having a weight on the total invoiced of 20% with respect to the total market of air conditioning equipment, heat pumps and production of acs, which confirms the boom of this technology as a combined system for heating, cooling and production of domestic hot water.

This was followed by a sectoral contextualization through the trends and the market environment for 2023, from the decarbonization of the electricity sector to investments in productive infrastructure, including the necessary balance between digitalization and the ecological transition; the essential role of smart air conditioning for the decarbonization of society and buildings, and the sustainability and efficiency of cities; energy transformation; new business and professional profiles; requirements in terms of environmental health and indoor air quality, with ventilation, filtration, cleaning, purification, among others, in focus; the focus on complete solutions and hybridization of technologies; the drive for connectivity and the consequent measurement, regulation, control and monitoring; etc.

The session closed with a message of security and hope for the environmental future. The manufacturers of air conditioning equipment, which AFEC has been representing for more than 45 years, are aligned with the European objectives; they are aware to face new urgent challenges, such as the guarantee of BESA (Welfare, Efficiency and Environmental Health) or the lack of qualified personnel; and they are prepared and offer, today, all the necessary technical solutions to meet the urgent objectives of decarbonization in thermal installations.

The report is available here:

HVAC & Air Conditioning market annual report 2022 (spanish)