Dick Yi, Sales Manager of the China-based Foshan LYD Energy Saving Technology, highlighted examples of the company’s CO₂ (R744) heat pump projects in China in an exclusive interview with NaturalRefrigerants.com. 

In 2015, LYD installed its first heat pump in China, which was put into a hotel to generate domestic hot water. Today, the company manufactures air-to-air, air-to-water and water-to-water CO₂ heat pumps for commercial and industrial applications, including hot and chilled water production and space heating and cooling. Depending on the configuration, heating capacities range from 8kW to 1MW (2.3 to 284.3TR). 

The company also has 50 international installations, some of which were completed by partner companies. Regarding the performance of the units, Yi indicated that LYD has had no reported issues or complaints.  

Hotel installations: “With its ability to provide domestic hot water, heating and cooling, nothing, in my opinion, outperforms CO₂ for hotel applications,” Yi said. 

• A 2019 installation of a water-source heat pump system replaced a gas boiler and provided 7°C (44.6°F) cold water for the central air-conditioning system in a Sofitel hotel in Macau. “In private talks with the manager, the unit saves ¥5,000 ($700/€600) per day,” Yi stated. 

• In 2024, LYD installed four water-source heat pumps in a different hotel in Macau to provide domestic hot water and space heating and cooling.  

• “Because of the big energy savings, different hotel chains are accepting the technology,” Yi said, adding that LYD has another hotel project in the pipeline. 

Pharmaceutical installations: Yi also discussed two projects for Roche Holdings, a Swiss multinational healthcare company. The group’s corporate policy does not allow refrigerants with a GWP higher than 7, according to Yi. 

• The first installation LYD completed for the group occurred in 2021, with eight air-source heat pumps providing 75°C (167°F) hot water for space heating in a project in Shanghai Podong. 

• In a two-phase project, LYD installed three air-source CO₂ units in 2022 followed by three in 2023 to provide domestic hot water and comfort heating for a Roche facility in Suzhou. 

• LYD has another project in the works with the group, a four-pipe system for combined heating and cooling. “Every year we have a CO₂ project with Roche for either a new building or to replace a gas boiler,” Yi said, adding that LYD is the group’s first choice for CO₂ heat pumps in China.

Train stations/repair shops: After developing its first CO₂ units for hotels, LYD introduced the technology to China’s high-speed train stations. 

• In a unique application, the company installed two air-source heat pump air heaters in a high–speed train repair shop in 2022. 

• Since the shop is only used when a train is under repair, it sits empty and unheated for long periods of time. “This is a good application for the air-to-air unit,” he said, with the system able to quickly raise the temperature to a comfortable 20°C (68°F) for the workers and maintain it by supplying 50 to 60°C (122 to 140°F) from the 20°C return water temperature. 

Big tech installation: To support its employees, Google’s Taiwan campus includes a swimming pool and a cafeteria. 

• In 2023, LYD, working through its business partner Podak, supplied seven air-source CO₂ heat pumps to provide domestic hot water for the canteen and to heat the swimming pool water. “Podak works hard to sell CO₂ heat pumps because they believe the technology has a brilliant future,” Yi said. 

• He indicated that LYD is in negotiations with a major chip manufacturer in Taiwan, to meet its heating and cooling needs.