Half bridge for operating a load (L2, R2) comprising a switching device comprising a high-side semiconductor switch and a low-side semiconductor switch, which are connected to one another in series in each case via one of their current terminals (S, D), wherein each semiconductor switch may be assigned, via a control terminal, a driving system which switches the respective semiconductor switch on or off according to a drive signal, and wherein the load (L2, R2) is connectable between the high-side and the low-side semiconductor switches; a load relief device (L1, C1) connected to the switching device in order to collect energy during a switching process in the switching device; an energy storage device comprising a first capacitance; and an energy recovery circuit (D1, D2, D3, L3) configured to feed the energy collected by the load relief device (L1, C1) to the energy storage device before a further energy collection of the load relief device (L1, C1) during a further switching process in the switching device, wherein the energy recovery circuit (D1, D2, D3, L3) comprises a current channel which connects the load relief device (L1, C1) to the first capacitance of the energy storage device, characterized in that the energy storage device comprises a second capacitance, which is connected to the current channel (D1, D2, D3, L3), wherein the first capacitance and the second capacitance each branch off from the current channel such that the second capacitance is arranged in parallel with the first capacitance, and wherein the second capacitance is designed to collect the energy from all energy stores of the load relief device (L1, C1) and the first capacitance, wherein a diode is connected downstream of one or a plurality of nodes at which a current from the load relief device (L1, C1) and/or the energy storage device is introduced into the current channel, specifically such that current from the current channel cannot flow back into the switching device, cannot flow back into an energy store of the load relief device that is located upstream of the relevant node, and/or cannot flow back into an energy store of the energy storage device that is located upstream of the relevant node. a switching device comprising a high-side semiconductor switch and a low-side semiconductor switch, which are connected to one another in series in each case via one of their current terminals (S, D), wherein each semiconductor switch may be assigned, via a control terminal, a driving system which switches the respective semiconductor switch on or off according to a drive signal, and wherein the load (L2, R2) is connectable between the high-side and the low-side semiconductor switches; a load relief device (L1, C1) connected to the switching device in order to collect energy during a switching process in the switching device; an energy storage device comprising a first capacitance; and an energy recovery circuit (D1, D2, D3, L3) configured to feed the energy collected by the load relief device (L1, C1) to the energy storage device before a further energy collection of the load relief device (L1, C1) during a further switching process in the switching device, wherein the energy recovery circuit (D1, D2, D3, L3) comprises a current channel which connects the load relief device (L1, C1) to the first capacitance of the energy storage device, characterized in that the energy storage device comprises a second capacitance, which is connected to the current channel (D1, D2, D3, L3), wherein the first capacitance and the second capacitance each branch off from the current channel such that the second capacitance is arranged in parallel with the first capacitance, and wherein the second capacitance is designed to collect the energy from all energy stores of the load relief device (L1, C1) and the first capacitance, wherein a diode is connected downstream of one or a plurality of nodes at which a current from the load relief device (L1, C1) and/or the energy storage device is introduced into the current channel, specifically such that current from the current channel cannot flow back into the switching device, cannot flow back into an energy store of the load relief device that is located upstream of the relevant node, and/or cannot flow back into an energy store of the energy storage device that is located upstream of the relevant node.