ShareFour STC members awarded the Peter Ritter von Rittinger International Heat Pump Award 2026
During the 2026 IEA Heat Pump Conference, STC members, Professors Björn Palm, Graeme Maidment, Choyu Watanabe and Renato Lazzarin were among the five distinguished professionals presented with the highest international honour in the heat pump, air conditioning, and refrigeration sector.
Every three years, the prestigious Peter Ritter von Rittinger International Heat Pump Award is presented during the International IEA Heat Pump Conference, an event co-sponsored by the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR).
The award recognises outstanding contributions to international collaboration in research, policy, market development, and applications of energy-efficient heat pumping technologies that strengthen energy resilience and deliver environmental benefits.
During the 2026 IEA Heat Pump Conference, held in Vienna, Austria, the prestigious award was presented to the following:
- Prof. Björn Palm, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, was awarded for great contribution in technology advancement. He has made long-standing contributions to heat pump technologies through highly cited research, industrial collaboration, and education of numerous experts. Prof. Palm is also delegate of Sweden to IIR, and part of IIR’s Science and Technology Council (STC), as member of IIR commission B1 - Thermodynamics and transfer processes.
- Thomas Nowak, Qvantum International, was awarded for great contribution in market development. He has played a decisive and irreplaceable role in transforming heat pumps from a niche technology into a strategic pillar of Europe’s energy system with lasting international impact.
- Prof. Graeme G. Maidment, London South Bank University, was awarded for great contributions in technology advancement and administration. He has a leading role in translating heat pump technologies into real-world urban energy systems, has been very internationally visible and contributed to policy relevance. Besides large scientific work he has been active in influencing energy politics. Prof. Maidment is also part of IIR’s Science and Technology Council (STC), as president of IIR commission E2 - Heat pumps, energy recovery.
- Prof. Choyu Watanabe, Zeneral Heatpump Industry Co., Ltd. / Nagoya University, was awarded for great contributions in technology advancement and applications. He has a key leadership role in the development and international transfer of advanced industrial heat pump technologies. He has had an exceptional career marked by a unique combination of success in industry and academia. Prof. Watanabe is also part of IIR’s Science and Technology Council (STC), as member of IIR commission E2 - Heat pumps, energy recovery.
- Prof. Renato Lazzarin, University of Padua, was awarded for great contributions in technology advancement. He has had an exceptional perseverance and continuity in heat pump research over several decades, with widely recognised scientific impact. Prof. Lazzarin is also part of IIR’s Science and Technology Council (STC), as honorary member of IIR commission E1 - Air Conditioning, after serving many years as president of IIR Section E on Air conditioning, heat pumps and energy recovery.
On behalf of the IIR, congratulations to all the distinguished awardees!
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