The ISKID HVAC&R Summit took place on Monday, May 5, at the Hilton Bosphorus Convention Center, with the participation of over 400 industry professionals, representatives from various ministries, architects, and academics.
Organized under the theme “The Climate is Changing, Are You Ready for the Change?”, the summit addressed key issues vital to the development of the HVAC-R sector. Topics included the HVAC industry’s current landscape, export strategies, the new era in international trade, sectoral statistics, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), F-Gases, Eco-Design Criteria, testing, laboratory and certification processes, as well as green incentives in Turkiye and across Europe. These subjects were discussed in a series of panels attended by industry stakeholders and public authorities.
Prominent European organizations such as EHPA (European Heat Pump Association) and Eurovent Certita Certification also participated, sharing updates on the latest developments in Europe with Turkish HVAC-R sector representatives.
The summit opened with a keynote speech by ISKID Chairman Tunç Korun, who emphasized the long-standing need for a platform that brings together key stakeholders to address fundamental industry challenges. He highlighted that the summit’s agenda had been meticulously prepared by ISKID’s commissions, stressing the growing strategic importance of the HVAC-R industry in an era of accelerating climate change, and the need for rapid, healthy growth supported by such forums.
Highlights from the Summit Panels
The summit featured four panels throughout the day. The first session, moderated by ISKID Board Member Erkan Tuncay, was titled “Overview and Statistics of the Turkish HVAC-R Industry, Solutions for Sectoral Growth, and the New Era in International Trade.”
In his presentation, ISKID Chairman Tunç Korun shared ISKID's latest sectoral statistics, noting that global sales of residential and industrial air conditioners are expected to reach 161 million units in 2025. For Turkiye, 3.3 million split air conditioners were sold in 2024 — 2.5 million domestically and 800,000 for export. Of these, 2.2 million were produced in Turkiye, while 1.1 million units were imported.
ISIB Chairman Mehmet Şanal stated: “Taking into account the sector’s growth potential and global market trends, we have set our 2025 export target at 7.8 billion USD.” He also announced a new protocol with Turkiye’s Council of Higher Education (YÖK), under which scholarships will be provided to students who choose HVAC-R-related academic programs, with support from industry firms. This initiative aims to attract more young talent to the sector and help meet its growing need for skilled professionals.
Simla Garip Kaya, Head of the 2nd Department of Government Supports at OAIB, presented information on overseas market research, brand registration, unit rental, and promotional supports. Cansu Sütlüoğlu, Specialist at OAIB's 1st Department of Government Supports, shared insights on domestic and international fair supports, market entry certificate supports, and global supply chain support.
Gülizar Yavaş, Head of the EU Single Market and Green Deal Department at the Ministry of Trade, discussed the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), emphasizing its importance as both a trade and climate policy tool designed to make carbon costs applicable not only within the EU but also for imported goods from outside the EU. She noted the mechanism will be fully implemented by the end of 2026.
The second session, moderated by ISKID Member Arel Arsoy, focused on product testing and certification under the topic “If We Had an Independent Test Laboratory.”
Volkan Erginer, Regional Lab Group Manager at TSE Marmara, shared that TSE had signed a protocol with Eurovent for ductless fan coil product groups starting in 2025, allowing Turkish manufacturers to test products in TSE labs for Eurovent certification. Discussions for similar collaborations for air conditioners and heat pumps are ongoing. Sylvain Courtney, President of Eurovent Certification, provided detailed insights into the advantages of Eurovent-certified products.
The second part of this session addressed “Environmental Regulations in the HVAC Sector.”
Volkan Polat, Head of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Department at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, announced that new regulations involving collaboration with the Permits and Licensing, and Waste Management Departments would soon be published.
Fatih Özçınar, Head of Machinery and Electronics Industry Department at the Ministry of Industry and Technology, discussed ongoing efforts on Eco-Design Criteria. Ozan Emrah Gök, Head of the Automotive, Energy, and Import Department, provided an overview of market surveillance and enforcement processes. Nazlı Saylam Bölükbaş, Head of the Program Management Department at the Ministry of Industry and Technology, announced that companies deemed eligible under the Green Transformation Support Program would be awarded the title of Green Transformation Center, allowing them to benefit from green financing opportunities.
The third panel, focused on heat pumps, was moderated by ISKID Member Arslan Çağlayan Gürel.
Milagros Garcia, Policy Officer at EHPA, presented an overview of the European heat pump market and its development. Burhan Güldibi, Coordinator at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, explained that under the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, Turkiye aims to reduce primary energy consumption by 16% by 2030, and that 30% of investment costs for energy efficiency initiatives will be covered via grants. Hasan Aksoy, SHURA Energy Transformation Research Coordinator, spoke about the importance and potential of heat pumps in Turkiye. Hakan Harman, ISKID Member and HVAC-Energy Specialist, discussed the transition to zero-energy buildings using renewable energy-powered heat pumps. Hamit Mutlu, General Manager of Mekanik Proje, presented on high-efficiency applications and design criteria for heat pumps.
HVAC&R in Architectural Design Conference Held for the 8th Time
The “HVAC&R in Architectural Design Conference”, now in its 8th edition, was held within the scope of the Climate Control Summit, under the theme “HVAC&R in Breathing Buildings.”
The panel, moderated by renowned journalist and presenter Mesut Yar, emphasized the importance of integrated design, bringing together professionals from various disciplines to discuss the past, present, and future of HVAC in architecture and its relationship with energy economics.
Merve Selviboy, President of the Central HVAC&R Systems Commission, highlighted the positive impact of collaboration between architects and engineers on integrated design. Award-winning architect Abdurrahman Çekim from Baraka Architecture Company presented exemplary projects to stress the significance of environmentally conscious architectural design and product use. Süleyman Akım, owner of Akım Engineering Company, discussed the historical evolution of mechanical installations. Cemil Yaman, LEED Consultant at ERKE Sustainable Building Design Consultancy, delivered a presentation on “Mechanical Systems in the LEED Certification System”, underscoring the importance of certifications in sustainable building design.
The ISKID HVAC&R Summit concluded with a cocktail reception organized following the panel sessions.
Summit Sponsors
Gold Sponsors: Alarko-Carrier, Arçelik, Baymak, Daikin, Form
Silver Sponsors: Airplus BRC Soğutma, Danfoss, Erbay, Ercan Teknik, Eurovent Certification, Hannover Fairs Turkiye, Karyer, Termofan, Ulpatek, Üntes
Panel Sponsors: Bosch, Doğu İklimlendirme, ISIB, Siemens, Vaillant
Logo Sponsors: ATM, Bahçıvan, Can Klima, Demirdöküm, Friterm, General Filter Havak, HTK, Johnson Controls, Makro Teknik, Refkar, Resterm, Rosenberg, Technowell, TLC Gree Klima, Vatbuz
For more information about the summit, please visit www.iklimlendirmezirvesi.org.tr
According to the feedback survey conducted after the Summit; 98% of participants expressed satisfaction with the event, 87% stated that the topics were addressed by the right panelists.
