UBEG DR ERICH MANDS U MARC SAUER GBR

Their core work

UBEG is a German engineering partnership (GbR) specializing in shallow geothermal energy systems — specifically the design, drilling, and installation of ground source heat exchangers. Their work sits at the intersection of geothermal engineering and building retrofit, with demonstrated expertise in adapting geothermal installations to technically constrained environments such as historical buildings. In the EU research context, they contribute practical drilling and installation knowledge to consortia developing improved materials, decision-support tools, and installation methods for geothermal heating and cooling. Their value to consortia is applied engineering know-how that bridges laboratory materials research and real-world ground installation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

With only two projects starting in consecutive years (2017 and 2018), a meaningful longitudinal shift is difficult to establish. The earlier GEOCOND project focused on materials and performance improvements for shallow geothermal systems in general, while the later GEO4CIVHIC narrowed toward a specific and technically demanding application: retrofitting geothermal systems into civil and historical buildings. This suggests a trajectory from broad geothermal engineering toward specialized, constrained-environment installation — a higher-value niche where generic solutions fail and bespoke expertise commands a premium.

UBEG appears to be moving toward technically demanding geothermal installations in built heritage and constrained urban environments, a niche that is growing as European cities pursue decarbonized heating without destroying protected building fabric.

How they like to work

UBEG participates exclusively as a consortium partner — they have never coordinated an H2020 project — which is consistent with a small, highly specialized engineering firm that contributes domain-specific technical expertise rather than project management capacity. With 29 unique partners across just 2 projects, they operate within large, multi-stakeholder research consortia typical of RIA and IA funding schemes. This suggests they are comfortable working in complex international teams but should not be expected to take a leadership or administrative role.

UBEG has built a surprisingly broad network for a two-project SME: 29 unique partners spanning 14 countries. This reflects the large consortium structures of the RIA and IA projects they joined, rather than a self-built network, but it does mean they have direct working relationships across a wide slice of the European geothermal research community.

What sets them apart

UBEG fills a rare gap: a small engineering firm with direct hands-on experience in shallow geothermal drilling and heat exchanger installation that also has EU research project credentials. Most geothermal SMEs are either pure contractors with no R&D exposure or research-oriented firms without field installation experience. Their involvement in GEO4CIVHIC specifically positions them as one of very few companies with demonstrated work on geothermal systems inside historical buildings — a niche that is legally and technically complex and highly relevant to Europe's building renovation agenda.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GEO4CIVHIC
  Targets one of the hardest geothermal installation challenges — retrofitting ground source heat systems into protected historical buildings — making it the most distinctive and marketable project in their portfolio.
• GEOCOND
  Their largest project by EC funding (EUR 369,102), focused on advanced materials for shallow geothermal performance improvement, establishing their foundational technical credentials in the sector.