During the conference dinner at the 15th IEA Heat Pump Conference in Vienna, Austria, five distinguished professionals were presented with the prestigious Peter Ritter von Rittinger International Heat Pump Award 2026 — the highest international honor in the heat pump, air conditioning, and refrigeration sector.
The 2026 awardees are:
- Björn Palm, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
- Thomas Nowak, Qvantum International
- Graeme G. Maidment, London South Bank University
- Choyu Watanabe, Zeneral Heatpump Industry Co., Ltd. / Nagoya University
- Renato Lazzarin, University of Padua
The award recognizes 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.
Presented every three years in connection with the International IEA Heat Pump Conference, the award was handed over by Stephan Renz, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Technology Collaboration Programme on Heat Pumping Technologies (HPT TCP) under the International Energy Agency (IEA).
He introduced the ceremony by telling the audience the story about Peter Ritter von Rittinger, the Austrian engineer who designed and installed the first known heat pump in 1855 which was installed at a salt works in the village of Ebensee in upper Austriato replace wood firing.
Thereafter the awardees were welcomed to the stage and laudation speeches were given.
The 2026 awardees
Björn Palm, KTH Royal Institute of Technology has made long-standing contributions to heat pump technologies through highly cited research, industrial collaboration, and education of numerous experts. His impact on technology is clear. He was awarded for great contribution in technology advancement.
Thomas Nowak, Qvantum International 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. He was awarded for great contribution in market development.
Graeme G. Maidment, London South Bank University 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. He was awarded for great contributions in technology advancement and administration.
Choyu Watanabe, Zeneral Heatpump Industry Co., Ltd. / Nagoya University, 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. He was awarded for great contributions in key leadership role in the development and international transfer of advanced industrial heat pump technologies. Exceptional career marked by a unique combination of success in industry and academia. He was awarded for great contributions in technology advancement and applications.
Renato Lazzarin, University of Padua, has had an exceptional perseverance and continuity in heat pump research over several decades, with widely recognized scientific impact. Although his contributions are primarily academic, they have laid an important foundation for subsequent developments. He was awarded for great contributions in technology advancement.
