German OEM ebm-papst has announced that its oil-free, compact propane (R290) turbo compressor has won the 2026 German Sustainability Award (GSA) for products in the climate category.
The CompaNamic compressor was unveiled in October 2024 and is designed for refrigeration and heat pump applications. It is the first compressor from the company, which has established itself in the HVAC&R industry as a leading manufacturer of fans and motors.
The jury lauded the CompaNamic for “significantly ensuring the efficiency and resource-saving operation of heat pumps and refrigeration systems” and for its “holistic impact throughout its entire life cycle,” according to ebm-papst.
“This award confirms the success of our ‘Innovation for Growth’ strategy,” said Tomas Smetana, CTO of the ebm‑papst Group, in a press release. “It encourages us to continue this path and demonstrates how our disruptive technologies actively contribute to a better future.”
The awards process: The German Sustainability Award Foundation has awarded the GSA since 2008. The GSA says the product awards honor “innovations that drive real change, advancing both the environment and society, strengthening Germany as a business hub, and proving that sustainable solutions made in Germany are globally competitive.”
- The product awards are split into five categories: climate, resources, nature, value chains and society.
- Companies self-nominate, with an assessment team, including “experts from the international consulting firm Kearney,” conducting the initial review. Juries of five subject-matter experts conduct an online vote to decide finalists in each category before choosing the winners.
- The awards will be handed out December 4 and 5 at a ceremony held in Düsseldorf.
Three’s company: The CompaNamic is available in three different sizes, of which the manufacturer has noted that the 3kWe (kilowatts-electric) and 10kWe variants are “particularly suitable” for use with propane as well as R1234ze.
- The P2’s maximum electrical power is 3kW, and it has a maximum speed of 230,00 RPM and a weight of 1.6kg (3.5lb).
- The P3.1’s maximum electrical power is 6kW, and it has a maximum speed of 160,00 RPM and a weight of 3.2kg (7.05lb).
- The P3.2’s maximum electrical power is 10kW, and it has a maximum speed of 140,00 RPM and a weight of 4.8kg (10.5lb).
Mark your calendars: The P3.2 model using propane refrigerant will be the first to hit the market, with serial production beginning in 2028, per ebm-papst.
- Ahmet Çokşen, Group Leader Aerodynamics & Product Management at ebm-papst, told NaturalRefrigerants.com in October 2024 that the 3kWe model was undergoing testing in an oil-free ground-source heat pump with a heating capacity of between 15–17kW (4.3TR to 4.8TR). The heat pump was developed in partnership with the German research institute Fraunhofer ISE.
- After testing the 3kWe model, the plan was to then move on to the 10kWe model.
Quotable: “The turbo compressor operates completely free of oil, uses the natural refrigerant propane and does not contain any harmful PFAS [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances] compounds,” said ebm-papst. “This not only increases energy efficiency but also simplifies disposal at the end of the systems’ service life.”
