[Report] "From Heating and Cooling to Hot Water at Once"... LG Heat Pumps Penetrate European Homes

On Site with LG's Heat Pump Solution in the Netherlands
First Application of Heat Pump Solution in a 102-Household Residential Complex
A Package Approach from Design to Installation

A quiet village near Rotterdam, Netherlands. In a residential complex of 102 units along the river, rows of outdoor units of LG Electronics' heat pump solution are installed. A heat pump is a high-efficiency system that supplies both heating/cooling and hot water through a single system. As European countries are restricting the use of fossil fuel boilers to reduce carbon emissions, the related market is experiencing rapid growth.

On September 7 (local time), at a residential complex in Ridderkerk, Netherlands, the installation process for a package combining LG Electronics' air-source heat pump heating and cooling system, 'Therma V,' and a buffer tank could be observed at a glance.

On the rooftop of a residential complex in Ridderkerk, the Netherlands, visited on the 7th (local time), LG Electronics' heat pump solution outdoor unit is installed. Photo by Junyi Park.

This site features a new solution combining Therma V with a stainless steel buffer tank from OSO, the premium hot water solution company acquired by LG Electronics last year. According to LG Electronics, this is the first time that a package consisting of a heat pump and a stainless steel buffer tank has been applied, and it is also the first case where over 100 heat pumps have been supplied to a newly built residential complex.

Therma V is an air-source heat pump system that absorbs thermal energy from the outside air and supplies the heating/cooling and hot water energy required. By incorporating LG Electronics’ self-developed high-efficiency inverter scroll compressor, about four to five times the input electricity can be obtained as thermal energy. Compared to conventional fossil fuel boilers, it can reduce energy costs by approximately 40–60%, thereby contributing to lower carbon emissions.

A view of the housing complex under construction in Ridderkerk, the Netherlands, visited on the 7th (local time). LG Electronics' heat pump solution is installed in this housing complex. Photo by Joon Lee.

Upon entering the interior of a building where heat pump installation work was underway, various pipes and equipment could be seen among the concrete and steel structures. Unlike the method of simply placing a product inside a finished home, the heat pump solution requires consideration for space and piping for the equipment from the construction stage, explained an LG Electronics representative.

The interior view of a housing complex under construction in Ridderkerk, Netherlands, visited on the 7th (local time). LG Electronics' heat pump solution has been installed in this housing complex. Photo by Junyi Park.

Entering a home where the heat pump installation was nearly complete, the structure of the solution became clearer. On one wall, an integrated indoor unit called a combi unit, which includes a water tank, was connected to the rooftop outdoor unit via piping. This setup enables the combined use of cooling, heating, and hot water functions.

On the other side, OSO’s buffer tank was installed. This is a buffer device that stores a certain amount of hot water produced by the heat pump system, maintains its temperature, and supplies it stably throughout the piping network. It helps reduce the frequent cycling of the heat pump and ensures stable operation of the system.

On the 7th (local time), inside a residential complex under construction in Ridderkerk, Netherlands, the buffer tank and combi unit of LG Electronics' heat pump solution were installed. Photo by Junyi Park.

LG Electronics is expanding its business in Europe by adopting a 'package solution' approach, designing the capacity of heat pumps and tanks, piping, and control methods as a unified system rather than as individual products. When a client requests a specific project, the LG Electronics engineering team designs a customized package for that project and proposes an installation method. The company’s strategy is to enhance the overall convenience of projects not only by supplying products, but also by being involved from the design stage through installation.

Robin Klous, ES (Eco Solution) Business Leader of LG Electronics Benelux, is explaining LG Electronics' heat pump solution inside a housing complex under construction in Ridderkerk, the Netherlands, on the 7th (local time). Photo by Park Joonyi.

Robin Klous, LG Electronics Benelux Eco Solutions Business Leader, explained, "The requirements of European clients are shifting toward integrated solutions that conveniently combine heating/cooling, hot water supply, heat storage, and control. The greatest advantage of LG Electronics products is our ability to provide the complete package."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.