Air conditioner production in Germany up 75% in past five years
Clean Energy Wire
The production of air conditioning (AC) units has risen by 75 percent over the past five years, according to data by the statistical office Destatis. Around 317,000 AC units were produced in Germany in 2024, compared to 181,000 in 2019.
Meanwhile, the total value of imported ACs also rose by 48 percent in the time frame, reaching 949 million euros last year from 640 million euros in 2019. The value of imports, however, was highest in 2023 at 957 million euros. Most units came from Italy, followed by China and Sweden.
More and more households are turning to air conditioning to stay cool in Germany’s increasingly hot summers. The share of households using ACs grew to 19 percent in 2024 compared to 13 percent the previous year, according to price comparison website Verivox.
Building and construction groups have called for clear specifications for irradiation protection measures from the government, as these can combat overheating and minimise the increase in energy consumption through air conditioners.
Germany experienced its hottest year on record in 2024 – for the third consecutive year. Heat poses the greatest health risk caused by the climate crisis in Germany, with over 3,000 people dying every summer due to high temperatures.