Cooling Without Warming: Energy‑Efficient ACs and Heat Pumps

As Europe accelerates its transition toward a climate-neutral economy, the role of heating and cooling technologies has become central to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU plan. Cooling and refrigeration account for a significant share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, yet they remain among the most underrepresented topics in mainstream energy policy discourse.

Objectives

• Highlight the critical link between cooling technologies and Europe’s energy efficiency and decarbonisation goals.
• Present the latest advances in heat pump and air conditioning technologies, with a focus on energy performance and climate impact.
• Identify policy levers and technology pathways to accelerate the adoption of sustainable cooling solutions across EU Member States.
• Foster interdisciplinary dialogue between technical experts, policymakers, and energy practitioners.
• Strengthen the IIR’s role as a key knowledge partner in EU-level energy policy discussions.

Event Format

• Welcome and introduction by the IIR – 10 minutes
• Presentation by Expert 1: Prof. Yunting Ge – 20 minutes *
• Presentation by Expert 2: Prof. Björn Palm – 20 minutes
• Open Q&A and panel discussion – 30 minutes
• Closing remarks – 5 minutes

Invited Expert Speakers

Prof. Björn Palm is a leading authority on heat transfer, refrigeration cycles, and energy-efficient air conditioning systems. Based at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, his research has advanced our understanding of two-phase flow and compact heat exchangers. He has been instrumental in shaping international scientific standards and policy recommendations in the cooling sector.

Prof. Yunting Ge is Professor of Building Services Engineering and Director of the Centre for Civil and Building Services Engineering (CCiBSE) at London South Bank University (LSBU), UK. With over 25 years of experience in Built Environment, Refrigeration, Energy Conservation, Hydrogen and Thermofluids, he holds degrees from Xi’an Jiaotong University and Tsinghua University. As a principal investigator, he has secured over £4.56m in research funding, published 140+ peer-reviewed papers, and serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Energy Reports.