Global air‑conditioner market set to surge as heat waves drive demand

The worldwide market for air‑conditioners, already valued at roughly $200 billion, is projected to exceed $300 billion by 2030, growing at about 6 % per year. The sector is dominated by a small group of Asian multinationals, with Japan’s Daikin Industries leading in revenue (record ¥5.02 trillion, about €29 billion) and holding an estimated 12‑15 % global share, while US‑based Carrier Global reported a near 30 % share‑price increase this year.

A new study published in *Environmental Research Energy* examines Italy’s residential electricity demand for cooling. It estimates that rising temperatures could add 2‑3 TWh of annual electricity use for air‑conditioning, a 5 % increase over 2023 consumption. However, broader adoption of rooftop photovoltaic systems could offset up to 50 % of peak grid demand, mitigating the impact of higher cooling needs.

These analyses highlight the growing importance of air‑conditioning as essential infrastructure and the potential of solar‑PV integration to balance rising electricity loads amid intensifying heat waves.