WALLER, Texas — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently awarded Daikin Comfort Technologies North America Inc. $39 million to support the manufacturing of domestic inverter heat pumps, a grant the company expects will lead to the creation of 275 new jobs.

Daikin plans to use the funding to expand its inverter heat-pump offerings to include air-to-water systems and lead the evolution of heat-pump technology in the U.S., a press release from Daikin said. Already widely deployed in Europe and Japan, these systems, known for their versatility and superior performance even in extreme conditions, will be the vanguard of next-generation heat-pump technology in the U.S., the company said.

“Daikin is honored to receive this funding, which will significantly advance our cutting-edge inverter technology,” said Satoru Akama, CEO of Daikin. “This award from the DOE underscores our unwavering commitment to expanding access to energy-efficient heat pumps and accelerating our decarbonization goals.”

As the HVAC industry continues to develop solutions to meet state and national carbon emissions-reduction goals, the grant will aid Daikin in its efforts to help facilitate the transition to cleaner heating, the company said. The grant will also enable Daikin to advance its mission of cultivating a highly skilled, clean-technology-focused American workforce, the company said.

The funding will create approximately 275 new jobs, enhance certification opportunities, and expand technical training for employees at the Daikin Texas Technology Park community, which encompasses Waller, Houston, and Prairie View, Texas, the press release said.