Tequs, a Norwegian designer of CO2 (R744) heat pumps and chillers, has announced its plans to expand into the U.S. market.
The Oslo-based company is currently undergoing UL certification through global testing provider Intertek and is working with some U.S.-based partners to begin field testing next year. According to Mads Holm, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Tequs, preparations are well underway.
“We are expecting to make some minor changes before testing starts,” Holm told NaturalRefrigerants.com in an interview at the Chillventa 2024 trade show in Nuremberg, Germany. “We will know more after the inspection next month.”
The U.S. push comes as Tequs prepares to roll out its first commercial projects in Norway later this month, just six months after launching its water-to-water heat pump in Europe. While no international installations have occurred yet, Holm expressed confidence in the company’s growing global pipeline.
First Chillventa appearance
Exhibiting for the first time at Chillventa, one of the world’s leading HVAC&R trade shows, Tequs has seen strong interest in its CO2 heat pumps.
“We see that more and more people are interested in natural refrigerants, whether it’s propane [R290], ammonia [R717] and, of course, CO2,” he explained. “I think people have been a bit skeptical when it comes to heat pumps, but with this technology, we’re able to deliver higher temperatures.”
“We see that more and more people are interested in natural refrigerants, whether it’s propane, ammonia and, of course, CO2.”
Mads Holm, CCO at Tequs
Much of the demand for Tequs’ heat pumps comes from commercial and industrial sectors, particularly in Northern Europe. Markets like Norway, Germany, Switzerland and Austria have expressed significant interest, with applications ranging from hotels and large office buildings to sports arenas.
The company currently offers eight standardized heat pump models, designed to provide domestic hot water, space heating and cooling for both new-build and retrofit projects. The units cover capacities of 20–340kW (5.7–96.7TR) and can be combined in parallel to cover larger demands, he added.
Holm also hinted at the company’s potential future developments, noting that an air-to-water model may be on the horizon.
Founded in 2021, Tequs spent its initial years refining its technology through rigorous testing. While the heat pumps were originally manufactured in-house, production has since transitioned to Italian OEM Rivacold.
Chillventa 2024 is being held at the NürnbergMesse exhibition center, October 8–10.
