Clas Ohlson Reports 11% Increase in Turnover SWITZERLAND: Clas Ohlson reported an 11% year-on-year increase in turnover for March 2026, reaching SEK 902 million (US$83.1 million). The Swedish home improvement retailer said 8% of the growth came from organic sales, while acquisitions contributed 2%, with no material currency impact. For the period from May 2025 to March 2026, total revenue rose 7% to SEK 11.6 billion (US$1.07 billion). Organic growth contributed 9%, acquisitio

Carrier and ATuAire Partner to Expand Heat Pump Adoption in Spain SPAIN: Carrier Global’s Spanish unit and ATuAire have signed a strategic agreement to accelerate deployment of electric heat pumps across hotels, hospitals, industrial sites, multi-residential housing, sports centres, and other commercial buildings in Spain. The partnership combines Carrier’s HVAC technology and engineering expertise with ATuAire’s capabilities in project financing, energy-saving certificates,

France Unveils US$ 261 Million Electrification Plan to Cut Fossil Fuel Dependence FRANCE: France is accelerating efforts to electrify its economy as the Iran war underscores the risks of relying on imported fossil fuels. Prime Minister Sébastian Lecornu said the shift is now a matter of “national interest,” not just climate policy. The government aims to cut fossil fuel dependence from 60% to 40% by 2030 through wider adoption of electric vehicles, heat pumps, and clean power

Partners with PHG UK: Flair Showers has entered into a partnership with Plumbing Heating Group (PHG), a merchant buying group in the United Kingdom, to expand the availability of its shower solutions. Under the agreement, PHG members will be able to supply a range of products including shower enclosures, bathscreens and wetrooms from the Flair PRO and Harmony collections. PHG operates 308 branches across the country, including bathroom showrooms and plumbing and heating trade

Opens HVAC Solutions Hub Italy: Midea has opened its first HVAC Solutions Hub in Italy, located within the CaldaiaStore outlet in Vigevano. The facility is intended to serve as a centre for professionals in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning sector, providing a space to explore products, applications and services. The hub is positioned to support interaction across the supply chain, including wholesalers, installers and end users, while facilitating the adoption of

Receives Award for Poland Heat Pump Investment Poland: Daikin has received the “Investment Impact Award” from fDi Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times, for its investment of EUR 300 million (USD 324 million) in a residential heat pump production facility in Poland. The award recognises foreign direct investment projects in Europe, with the ceremony held in Cannes, France on 10 March 2026. The investment supports the production of heat pump technologies within Europ

Swegon Acquires Residential Ventilation Business of Dantherm to Strengthen Nordic Presence Denmark: Swegon has signed an agreement to acquire the residential ventilation business of Dantherm, enhancing its position in the residential indoor climate segment in Denmark and strengthening its footprint across the Nordics. The transaction includes development, manufacturing, and sales of residential air handling units, with Dantherm’s portfolio holding a strong domestic presence a

International Monetary Fund Forecasts Slower Euro Zone Growth and Rising Inflation Amid Energy Risks Europe: The International Monetary Fund stated that Eurozone growth is expected to slow to 1.1% in 2026 from 1.4% in 2025, below the earlier 1.3% estimate, due to the impact of the Iran war and persistently high energy costs, while inflation is projected to rise to 2.6% from 2.1%. The region’s heavy reliance on energy imports, compounded by the effects of the Russia-Ukraine Wa

EDF Announces Electrification Plan for Households and Businesses France: EDF has announced a plan valued at EUR 240 million (USD 259 million) to support the transition to electric energy among low-income households and small businesses in France. The initiative includes financial assistance for approximately 80,000 households to adopt heat pump systems, with a grant of EUR 1,000 (USD 1,080) per household that can be combined with existing support schemes. The programme is pos

Bauhaus Expands Ship-from-Store Model in Nordic E-commerce Nordic Region (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden): Bauhaus has partnered with logistics service provider nShift to expand its ship-from-store model for e-commerce operations across the Nordic countries. The initiative follows a pilot programme in which approximately 200,000 orders were processed using the system. The company expects around 750,000 online orders to be handled through the platform by 2026. Under this mod

France to Ban Gas Heating in New Buildings by Year-End France: Sébastien Lecornu announced that the installation of gas heating systems will be banned in all new constructions, including collective housing, from the end of this year in France. The measure forms part of a broader plan to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote electrification of energy use. The announcement was made on April 10 at Hôtel Matignon, where initial steps of the government’s energy strategy were

Duravit Appoints Michael Demmer as Interim CEO Germany: Duravit AG has appointed Michael Demmer as Interim Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. The appointment forms part of an ongoing strategic realignment and is intended to ensure continuity across the company’s processes, projects and strategic initiatives. “I will continue to develop Duravit AG with a clear strategy that puts people first and consistently strengthens the core brand. In doing so, we will focus ev

Heat Pump UK: Vital Energi has been awarded a £14 million (US$18.7 million) contract by Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust to develop a new low-carbon energy centre at Tameside General Hospital. The project involves designing and constructing an energy centre equipped with a 2MW heat pump system, comprising four air-source and two water-source heat pumps, along with low-temperature hot water boilers. A central aspect of the initiative is the replacement

Heat pumps EDF, which has been serving the French population for 80 years, is allocating €240 million (US$280 million) to support consumers and industrial players in adopting heat pumps and electric heavy goods vehicles, as well as to encourage the establishment of electricity-intensive industries in France. This initiative, funded both directly by EDF and through a support fund open to additional partners, aims to accelerate the country’s transition toward electrified soluti

Iran Conflict Spurs Surge in Heat Pump and Solar Panel Demand NETHERLANDS: Rising gas prices linked to the Iran war have triggered a sharp increase in demand across the Netherlands for heat pumps, solar panels, home batteries, and used electric vehicles. Installers report unprecedented inquiries, with some seeing demand spikes of up to 100 percent. Heat pumps are particularly affected, with firms like DeWarmte breaking monthly records in March. Industry experts attribute the

Dutch Households Reduce Gas Use by 14 Percent Since 2022 Energy Crisis NETHERLANDS: Dutch households have cut their natural gas consumption by around 14 percent this winter compared with 2021 to 2022, maintaining a structurally lower usage since the 2022 energy crisis. Geopolitical tensions involving Iran have further accelerated demand for sustainable home energy solutions, with applications for heat pumps more than doubling and solar-related products, including solar panels

Duravit AG and CEO Stephan Patrick Tahy Part Ways by Mutual Agreement GERMANY: Hornberg-based German bathroom manufacturer Duravit AG and CEO Stephan Patrick Tahy have mutually agreed to end their collaboration. The decision follows discussions between the Supervisory Board, owners, and Tahy, who concluded that their visions for the company’s future strategic direction no longer aligned. The board and owners thanked Tahy for his dedication and strategic contributions, while T

Creditors Approve Hüppe GmbH’s Restructuring Plan GERMANY: Creditors of German shower specialist Hüppe GmbH have overwhelmingly approved the company’s restructuring plan, clearing a key hurdle for its realignment. The Oldenburg Local Court confirmed the plan, which will become binding once the two‑week appeal period expires and protective shield proceedings are lifted. Management said the decision gives the firm strong momentum for its turnaround. Hüppe will focus production

Boost Cleantech Manufacturing Luxembourg: The European Commission has approved a €500 million (USD 545 million) state aid scheme by Luxembourg to support strategic investments in boost cleantech manufacturing, aligned with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal and the transition to a net-zero economy. The scheme, approved under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) adopted on 25 June 2025, will provide direct grants to companies across Luxembourg to expa

Heat pump adoption reduces Germany’s LNG import costs Germany: New research by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis indicates that the installation of nearly 1.1 million residential heat pumps in Germany between 2022 and 2025 reduced the country’s liquefied natural gas import costs by EUR 1.3 billion (approximately USD 1.4 billion). The study states that, without these installations, Germany would have required around 16 per cent more LNG imports between