InterHeat Project Wins "Best Applied Research Paper" Award at the IEA Heat Pump Conference 2026
The InterHeat project won the "Best Applied Research Paper Award" at the IEA Heat Pump Conference 2026 in Vienna. The award-winning presentation detailed the design and testing of the first hydrocarbon cascade high-temperature heat pump.
We are thrilled to announce that the InterHeat project has been honoured with the prestigious "Best Applied Research Paper Award" at the IEA Heat Pump Conference in Vienna.
The award-winning paper was written by Nils Ahlbrink, Frederik Dupont Holdt, Jonas Lundsted Poulsen, and Benjamin Zühlsdorf, Danish Technological Institute.
The corresponding presentation, titled “Development of a hydrocarbon cascade high-temperature heat pump for industrial decarbonisation”, was delivered on May 28th, 2026, by Nils Ahlbrink. It detailed the design and testing of the project’s very first system—marking a major milestone in the development of efficient, high-temperature heat pump technology.
Reflecting on the achievement, Nils Ahlbrink noted:
"This award is a testament to the fantastic work our project group has accomplished. It underscores both the high relevance of this topic for industrial decarbonisation and the concrete achievements we have reached together."
Advancing emission-free process heat
This award-winning work is a key part of the broader InterHeat project, which aims to develop and demonstrate two high-temperature heat pump systems at different integration levels: at the process level and at the sector level.
By advancing technology availability and resolving complex integration challenges, these activities will ultimately facilitate a rapid transition towards emission-free process heat supply and help decarbonise hard-to-abate industrial processes.
What’s next for InterHeat?
The momentum does not stop here. The project is already gearing up for its next major milestones:
Summer 2026: The highly anticipated demonstration of the first system is expected to launch at the final industrial site.
System 2 Testing: The second innovative system will undergo rigorous testing at the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) facility in Aarhus.
Picture: Nils Ahlbrink and Jonas Lundsted Poulsen from Danish Technological Institute (second and third from the left) accepted the award on behalf of the project group.
Photo: AIT / Alexandru Enache