AFEC Report: Spanish HVAC Market Stagnates in 2024

The Spanish Association of Air Conditioning Equipment Manufacturers (AFEC) has released its annual market report for 2024, highlighting a largely stagnant heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) sector. The findings were presented at the headquarters of the Spanish Association for Standardisation (UNE), with representatives from AFEC and UNE discussing market trends, legislative updates, and challenges for 2025.

Market Performance and Key Trends

According to the report, the overall HVAC market in Spain saw a marginal growth of 0.8% in value (sell-in). While the air handling unit (AHU) and heat recovery ventilation segments experienced a 19% increase, heat pumps and air-conditioning equipment remained almost unchanged compared to 2023, registering a slight decline of -0.1%. The residential sector contracted, while commercial and industrial segments showed growth.

In 2024, approximately 1,380,000 residential/domestic units were sold, amounting to over €850 million. Heat pump sales grew by 5.5%, a rate similar to Italy but significantly higher than Germany (-47.8%) and France (-24%), as recently reported by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA).

Ventilation equipment sales decreased, with a -1.9% drop in the residential sector and -1.1% in the industrial and tertiary sectors. AFEC stressed the importance of raising awareness about ventilation, filtration, and maintenance to improve indoor air quality.

The regulation and control segment was also discussed, with AFEC noting that advances in smart HVAC technology are driving the development of more sophisticated metering, sensing, and control systems. The report anticipates growing demand in 2025, influenced by regulatory changes, artificial intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

Regulatory Environment and Market Challenges

The report underscores the regulatory landscape for 2024–2025, including the need to consolidate the single European market, harmonize legislation, and implement the EU’s Heat Pump Accelerator platform. AFEC also highlighted its role in developing white certificates for energy savings related to heat pumps and ventilation.

Decarbonization remains a central industry goal. The report cites AFEC’s collaboration with the Spanish Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) on the guide Heat Pumps in the Energy Renovation of Buildings. While renovation activity has increased, the current pace is insufficient to meet European decarbonization targets.

Outlook for 2025

Looking ahead, AFEC identified key trends for 2025, including the impact of new EU regulations, evolving energy policies, and the increasing role of digitalization in HVAC systems. The sector must also address challenges such as climate misinformation and the need for a revised energy efficiency factor for heat pumps.

The session concluded with an introduction to the upcoming C&R Fair, scheduled for November 18–20 in Madrid. AFEC reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and the energy transition, emphasizing the industry’s readiness to support European climate objectives with innovative and efficient HVAC solutions.