Spain’s HVACR sector marked World Refrigeration Day on June 26 with an event focused on refrigeration and air conditioning as essential but often overlooked technologies. Organized by AEFYT, AFAR and AFEC at the headquarters of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations, the program addressed health, workforce development, digitalization, energy resilience, innovation and communication.
Susana Rodríguez, president of AEFYT, emphasized refrigeration’s importance in daily life and the need to improve its visibility to attract talent. Pedro Antonio Prieto, director of Energy Saving and Efficiency at IDAE, discussed the sector’s links with energy and competitiveness, including INNOVAE, a new program for innovative energy-saving and efficiency projects. The initiative covers deep energy renovation in tertiary buildings and the replacement of large refrigeration systems.
A first panel examined the role of heating and cooling in daily life. Speakers addressed refrigeration as critical infrastructure for the food chain and highlighted the importance of air conditioning in hospital pharmacy, cryopreservation and medical gas processes.
A second panel focused on intelligent HVACR systems, energy efficiency, control and competitiveness. Topics included flexible and efficient solutions, refrigeration’s role in electricity system flexibility and renewable energy integration, and the use of artificial intelligence combined with physical models to improve facility management.
The discussion also covered refrigerated transport, predictive maintenance, machine-learning algorithms and digital twins as tools for reducing energy and food losses. Audience sessions explored how data, practical cases and improved communication could increase awareness of digitalization, energy management and HVACR’s contribution to society.
Francisco José Perucho, president of AFEC, closed the event by calling for further progress on decarbonization and stronger industry communication. He highlighted HVACR’s role in energy efficiency, indoor air quality, comfort, safety and operational continuity.