Scroll and Absorption Chillers Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Scroll And Absorption Chillers Market is projected to expand from USD 6.93 Billion in 2025 to USD 12.57 Billion by 2031, achieving a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.43%. Scroll chillers operate using positive displacement scroll compressors, whereas absorption chillers generate chilled water through a physiochemical process powered by a heat source. The market's growth is largely underpinned by the rising demand for energy-efficient cooling in commercial and industrial sectors, increased adoption of district cooling systems, and the ability of absorption units to repurpose waste heat. However, regional construction slowdowns have impacted sales; the China Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association reported a 12.2 percent decline in modular chiller sales during the first half of 2024.

A major obstacle hindering market growth is the high upfront investment required for these advanced cooling systems relative to traditional alternatives. This financial barrier is further intensified by intricate installation needs and the necessity for specialized maintenance, which can discourage cost-conscious end-users in emerging markets from implementing these technologies. Consequently, while the demand for efficient cooling solutions drives the market forward, economic factors and technical complexities continue to pose significant challenges to widespread adoption.

Market Drivers

The rapid development of commercial infrastructure and data centers acts as a primary engine for the global scroll and absorption chillers market. With the acceleration of digital transformation, the construction of hyperscale data centers and modern commercial buildings demands powerful thermal management systems to maintain operational stability, fueling the uptake of high-capacity applied HVAC solutions. This trend significantly impacts the financial results of key industry players; for example, Johnson Controls reported in November 2024 that its North American Applied HVAC & Controls segment saw organic sales growth exceeding 20 percent, a surge largely credited to robust demand from the data center vertical.

Concurrently, the growing preference for energy-efficient cooling is fundamentally reshaping market dynamics as end-users aim to satisfy strict sustainability regulations and lower operating expenses. This shift is prompting substantial investment in green building projects and the retrofitting of aging infrastructure with advanced, eco-friendly chiller systems designed to reduce carbon footprints. Highlighting this strong demand for sustainable technology, Trane Technologies announced in January 2025 that revenue for its Americas commercial HVAC business rose by over 20 percent year-over-year. Additionally, Daikin Industries Ltd. reported a record sales result of €28 billion for the fiscal year ending March 2024, further evidencing the massive global scale of these cooling requirements.

Market Challenges

The substantial initial investment required for scroll and absorption chillers represents a major hurdle to the broader expansion of the global market. These systems demand significant upfront capital not only for the units themselves but also for the complex infrastructure and specialized installation they require. In markets where cost is a primary concern or during times of economic uncertainty, this price gap often drives commercial and industrial users toward conventional, lower-cost alternatives, despite the superior long-term energy efficiency offered by advanced chiller technologies. This reluctance to commit to high capital expenditures delays adoption rates and restricts market penetration in developing regions.

The effect of these financial constraints is clearly visible in major markets where economic pressures have tightened investment budgets. When end-users cannot justify the premium for these systems during construction slowdowns, sales volumes directly contract. According to the China Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association, the total sales volume of the central air conditioning market dropped by 18.2 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year. This decline highlights the market's vulnerability to economic fluctuations, as the high initial costs of these cooling solutions become prohibitive when capital liquidity is reduced.

Market Trends

Driven by global mandates to phase down HFCs, the market is increasingly shifting toward chillers compatible with next-generation, low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants such as R-32 and natural alternatives. This transition compels manufacturers to engineer units that comply with environmental standards without compromising performance, a strategy that is proving commercially successful in regions with strict regulatory frameworks. This low-carbon focus is reflected in the financial results of leading industry players; Daikin Europe N.V., for instance, reported an annual turnover of €5.03 billion in May 2025, a performance significantly supported by the sales expansion of commercial cooling systems utilizing the low-GWP refrigerant R-32.

Simultaneously, manufacturers are embedding Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and Artificial Intelligence (AI) directly into chiller units to facilitate active predictive maintenance. By analyzing real-time data on parameters such as vibration, pressure, and temperature, this technology forecasts component failures before they interrupt operations, moving beyond simple monitoring to optimize uptime for critical infrastructure. This capability offers substantial operational value by preventing expensive emergency repairs and streamlining service schedules. A study highlighted by Johnson Controls in April 2025 indicated that deploying AI-driven smart building platforms could reduce chiller maintenance costs by up to 67 percent over a three-year period.

Key Players Profiled in the Scroll And Absorption Chillers Market

• Johnson Controls PLC
• Trane Technologies Company, LLC
• Broad Air Conditioning Co. Ltd.
• Yazaki Energy Systems Inc.
• Hitachi Appliances Inc.
• Robur Group
• Daikin Industries Ltd.
• Carrier Corporation
• Century Corporation
• MIDEA Group Co. Ltd.

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Scroll And Absorption Chillers Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Scroll And Absorption Chillers Market, by Product:

• Scroll Chiller
• Absorption Chiller

Scroll And Absorption Chillers Market, by Capacity:

• Less than 100 KW
• Ranges between 101 KW to 300 KW
• 301 KW to 700 KW
• Greater than 701 KW

Scroll And Absorption Chillers Market, by Vertical:

• Commercial
• Industrial
• Others

Scroll And Absorption Chillers Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Scroll And Absorption Chillers Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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