Award-Winning Research for the Heat Transition

Jeßberger studied Environmental Engineering and Resource Management at Ruhr University Bochum, earning a Bachelor's degree, followed by a Master's in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Energy and Process Engineering. He then moved to the University of Bayreuth, where he has been working since 2021 as a research associate at the Chair of Technical Thermodynamics and Transport Processes under Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter Brüggemann. As part of his ongoing doctoral project at the University’s Centre of Energy Technology, he has authored and published three scientific papers on the integration of high-temperature heat pumps in peer-reviewed journals. These outstanding contributions have now earned him the Christian Hecht Prize from the Praxisforum Geothermie.

In his research, Jeßberger explored how high-temperature heat pumps can be integrated into geothermal systems to significantly improve the overall efficiency of geothermal plants or to raise flow temperatures. His work presents an innovative, efficient, and sustainable approach to heat supply, contributing to the achievement of climate targets and the decarbonisation of Germany’s energy system by 2045.

Jeßberger on receiving the award:
“The Christian Hecht Prize is a great honour and a valuable recognition of my scientific work. The award highlights the importance of a sustainable and efficient heat transition – a topic that has accompanied me since the beginning of my research. This success would not have been possible without the excellent research environment at the University of Bayreuth. In particular, the KeyLabs at the Centre of Energy Technology (ZET) played a crucial role – through state-of-the-art measurement technology, high-quality laboratory infrastructure, and intensive professional exchange with dedicated colleagues. A key element of my work was also the close interdisciplinary collaboration within the Geothermal Alliance Bavaria, which enabled a bridge between fundamental research, applied energy technology, geology, and industrial practice. This environment has not only shaped my scientific development but also my motivation to drive forward innovative solutions for the energy transition.”