The national production value in 2021 was approximately 825 million euros, with an increase of 11% compared to the previous year and 4% compared to 2019, while the total of the Italian market exceeded 2.260 billion euros, up 37% from 2020 and 33% from 2019.
According to the Assoclima survey, heat pumps and air-cooled refrigeration units grew by 120% in volume and 130% in value in the size segment below 17 kW in 2021, indicating a noticeable increase in the hydronic industry. Specifically, the turnover of air-water and water-water heat pumps in Italy increased by 107% in volume and 77% in value, respectively, to levels never seen before. In comparison to 2020, the results for hybrid systems were even more impressive, with a volume increase of 352% and a value increase of 390%.
Water source heat pumps and chillers showed a similar trend, though with lower absolute values: +12% in volume and +14% in value for the smaller sizes (below 17 kW); +6% in volume and +13% in value for the 18-50 kW sector. The largest machines increased in volume by 22% and in value by 31%.
Larger sizes also performed well, with a growth of 98% by volume and 62% by value for 18 to 50 kW (+29% in volume and +27% in value) and 51 to 1500 kW (+6% in volume and value), leading to a total sector increase of 98% by volume and 62% by value. Heat pump systems accounted for the biggest share, with overall volume and value increases of 108% and 80%, respectively.
According to the Assoclima survey, the numbers are also growing for Air handling units (up 14% in volume and 17% in value) and mechanical ventilation systems (up 94% in volume and 57% in value). The national revenue for mono-split and multi-split systems was positive in both volume (+23%) and value (+26%), with both products reporting double-digit increases over the previous year: +24% in volume and value for mono-splits and +19% in volume and +28% in value for multi-splits. VRF systems are also on the rise, with volume and value increasing by 26% and 27%, respectively, in 2021, and monobloc air conditioners (+3% volume and +6% value).
In comparison to 2020, mobile air conditioners dropped a few percentage points (-12% in volume and -10% in value), while rooftop air conditioners increased in value (+7.7%) but lost in quantitative terms (-1.4 %).
Luca Binaghi, president of Assoclima, the HVAC Systems Manufacturers Association, commented on the results: “The past two years, which were unforeseeable from a market standpoint, demonstrated that our sector is strategic: at first, the Covid 19 pandemic brought out the awareness that our industry was one of those to focus on, both to accelerate the energy transition process and to support national economies in a very difficult situation,”. Hence the decision by the policymakers to strengthen the incentive tools, with the Super bonus and the transfer of credit on all.
The strategy recently published by the European Commission, REPowerEU, offers an interesting starting point: heat pumps will have to more than double the current rate of installation in the coming years in order to drive an electrification process that can no longer be postponed.
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