Air conditioning systems promote human comfort, representing an energy consumption of up to 30% in a building. Although electric chillers are still widely used for thermal comfort, absorption chillers are a promising alternative for air conditioning using renewable energy sources (solar energy, natural gas, waste heat, geothermal, and biomass). The search for efficient, economical, and ecological solutions becomes evident regarding these considerations. This article proposes a brief bibliographical review of chillers powered by alternative energy sources to electricity. Awareness of the application of alternative energy sources in these systems contributes to sustainable practice and energy matrix diversification.

Air conditioning systems have been widely applied to promote human comfort and this can represent an energy consumption of up to 30% in building. Although electric chillers are still widely used for thermal comfort, absorption chillers have proved to be a promising alternative for air conditioning by using renewable energy sources (solar energy, natural gas, waste heat, geothermal and biomass). Taking these considerations into account, the search for efficient, economic and ecological solutions becomes evident. This article proposes a brief bibliographical review on chillers powered by alternative energy sources to electricity. Awareness of the application of alternative energy sources in these systems contributes to sustainable practice and the diversification of the energy matrix.