Kohl

Research Fields

  • Deep geothermal systems (with focus on induced seismicity and geomechanical fracture behavior)
  • Numerical methods
  • Coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanic-chemical processes in fractured rock
  • Stress field analysis

Curriculum Vitae

Prof. Dr. Thomas Kohl is full professor at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, KIT. He holds the chair of the Division of Geothermal Energy at the Institute for Applied Geosciences and is head of the topic "Geothermal Energy Systems" at KIT contributing to the research field "Energy" in the program "Renewable Energies" as defined by the Helmholtz Association.

After his degree in Geophysics at the Technical University of Karlsruhe, he became research associate at CNRS in Paris in the field of seismology. In 1992 he got his PhD at ETH Zurich on his investigations of coupled processes in deep geothermal systems. After completing his habilitation thesis he became senior lecturer at ETH Zürich in 1999 as recognized expert on subsurface and especially in geothermal systems. His code FRACTure on coupled hydraulic-thermal-mechanical processes used world-wide was applied to charac-terize fractured rock in complex subsurface terrain. As co-founder of GEOWATT AG in Zürich he was the CEO of this ETH spin-off, medium size company between 2003 and 2011. Here he collaborated in European and national research projects also as work package leader and directed numerous geothermal project realiza-tions. As such, he was leading projects in Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, U.S. and France. At KIT in Karlsruhe, a major research focus is on the investigation of geomechanical aspects in fractured systems. As such, the origin and impact of induced seismicity and the impact on the reservoir is of strong interest. Using the exceptional possibilities of the surrounding geothermal projects, systematic data analyses in combination with the tectonic setting in the Rhine Graben are conducted. With his arrival, KIT became an internationally renowned institution in geothermal research. T. Kohl has organized several high rank workshops and is one of the initiators of the European Geothermal Workshop organized jointly with University Strasbourg. T. Kohl is member of several scientific committees in Germany and France. At KIT he has established several teaching modules and is engaged in international Master Programs. Additionally, he is editor in chief of Geothermal Energy Journal and special issues of Geothermics, member of the International Heat Flow commission IASPEI, and EERA – JPGE management board member. He gave numerous presentations and invited talks at high-level scientific conferences and is author of more than 70 reviewed manuscripts in renowned journals. He is col-laborating with many worldwide industrial projects. Since 2017 he is spokesman of the working group "Geothermal Energy" of the German Geophysical Society.

Education and Professional Experience

1981 - 1988   Study of Geophysics at Technical University Karlsruhe
1987 - 1988   Post graduate researcher at CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) Paris
1988 - 1992   PhD thesis at Institute of Geophysics at ETHZ (ETH Zurich)
1991 - 1996   Research Assistant / Postdoc at ETH Zurich
1997 - 2003   Senior Researcher (Oberassistent) at ETH Zurich
1999             Habilitation at ETH Zurich and nomination as Assoc. Professor (Privatdozent)
2002 - 2011   Founder and CEO of the company GEOWATT AG in Zurich
2006 - 2010  Honorary Professor at University Freiburg
Since 2010    Full Professor at KIT Karlsruhe

Activities in the Scientific Community, Honors, Awards

1994 –1996   Chairperson Institute's Council at Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich
1996             Young Scientists' Publication Award of European Geophysical Society (EGS)
1998 - 2003   Representative of IASPEI in Swiss National Committee of IUGG
1999             Best Paper Award at Geothermal Resource Council (GRC)
2000 - 2008   Board member of Swiss Geothermal Association
2000 - 2010   Board member of Swiss Geophysical Commission,
Since 2003     Member of "International Heat Flow Commission" of IASPEI
2005 - 2010   Board member of CREGE (Centre de Recherche en Géothermie), Neuchâtel
2010 - 2015   Member Faculty Council (Fakultätsrat), Dept. Civ. Engin., Geo & Envir. Sciences, KIT
Since 2010    Scientific Speaker of German Geothermal Economic Forum
Since 2011    Deputy of EERA- JPGE SP 2 "Accessing & Engineering of the Reservoir"
Since 2012    Responsible of the Helmholtz Topic "Geothermal Energy Systems" at KIT
Since 2013    Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Geothermal Energy, Guest Editor of Geothermics
2015            Henry J. Ramey Award of GRC for "seminal contributions to the modeling of hydraulic stimulation of EGS reservoirs and fluid flow in fractured media, and for mentoring the next gener-ation of geothermal reservoir engineers"

Teaching Experience

1997 – 2011 Courses at ETHZ: Borehole Geophysics, Theoretical Gravimetry & Geomagnetics, Geothermal
1993 – 2014 Post-diploma courses at: EPF Lausanne, Universities Neuchâtel, University Zürich, Engineer. Colleges in Switzerland / Germany on Numerical Modelling, Geothermal utilization
1997 – 2010 Supervisor of theses: 3 x Diploma, 2 x PhD (all ETHZ), 3 x PhD, 1 x habilitation
2006 – 2010 Courses of Borehole Geophysics and Geothermal at University Freiburg
2010 – 2015 Education program at KIT with 5 course modules (Borehole Technology, Heat Transport in Earth, Applied Geothermics, Geothermal Research Topics, Numerical Methods Earth Science)
2010 – 2015 Theses primary supervisor: 9 x Dissertations (2x "summa cum laude" both with awards), 10 x MSc (2 awards) , 5 x BSc, sec. supervisor/committee member: 10 x PhD

 

Publications & Proceedings - Peer Reviewed (ISI, Scopus)


2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
Publications 2010-2015 - Peer Reviewed (ISI, Scopus)
Title Author Source Year

Rolker, J., Kohl, T., Neumann, T., Schill, E., Schneider, J., Stober, I. 

Geothermal Energy, 3-5; DOI:10.1186/s40517-014-0021-1

2015

Seithel R., Steiner U., Müller B., Hecht Ch., Kohl T.

Geothermal Energy 2015, 3:4 DOI:10.1186/s40517-014-0023-z

2015

 Gaucher E., Schoenball M., Heidbach O., Zang A., Fokker P.A., van Wees J.-D., Kohl T.

Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 52, 1473-1490, DOI: 10.1016/j.reser.2015.08.026

2015

Meller, C., Kohl, T.

Geothermal Energy

2014

Grimm M., Stober I., Kohl T., Blum P.

Grundwasser (DOI 10.1007/s00767-014-0269-1)

2014

Baujard C., Schoenball M., Kohl T., Dorbath L.

Geothermics 52 (), 140-152, DOI:10.1016/j.geothermics.2014.07.002

2014

Sahara D.P., Schoenball M., Kohl T., Müller B.I.R.

International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Science, 71, 301-309 (doi: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2014.07.001)

2014

Meixner J., Schill E., Gaucher E., Kohl T.

Geothermal Energy 2:7

2014

 Meller C, Kontny A, Kohl T

 Geophys J Int. 199 (1), 465-479. doi: 10.1039/gji/ggu278

2014

Held, S., Genter, A., Kohl, T., Kölbel, T., Sausse, J., & Schoenball, M. 

Geothermics, 51, 270-280

2014

Schoenball, M., Dorbath, L., Gaucher, E., Wellmann, J. F., & Kohl, T. 

Geophysical Research Letters, in press, doi:10.1002/2013GL058514 

2014

 Carola Meller; Albert Genter; Thomas Kohl

Geophysical Journal International 2013; doi: 10.1093/gji/ggt423 

2014

Mundhenk, N., Huttenloch, P., Sanjuan, B., Steger, H., Kohl, T., Zorn, R. 

Corrosion Science 70 (2013), pp. 17-28 

2013

Mundhenk, N., Huttenloch, P., Kohl, T., Steger, H., Zorn, R. 

Geothermics 46 (2013) 14–21 

2013

M. Schoenball, C. Baujard, T. Kohl and L. Dorbath

Journal of Geophysical Research, 117, B09307, doi:10.1029/2012JB009304

2012

Kohl T., Schill E. und Baujard C. 

Z. geol. Wiss., 38 (1): 27–39 

2010

Ollinger D., Baujard C., Kohl T., Moeck I.

Geothermics 39 (2010) 46-58

2010
Publications before 2010 - Peer Reviewed (ISI, Scopus)
Title Author Source Date

Noetzli, J., Gruber, S., Kohl T., Salzmann, N., Haeberli, W.

JGR, Vol. 112, F02S13, doi:10.1029/ 2006JF000545

2007

Kohl T., Mégel T.

Int. J. of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences, 44, 1118–1131

2007

Signorelli S., Bassetti S., Pahud D., Kohl T.

Geothermics, 36: 141-166

2006

Mégel, T., Kohl, T. and Hopkirk, R.J.

Geothermics, 35: 589-599

2006

Gérard A., Genter A., Kohl T., Lutz Ph., Rose P. and Rummel F.

Geothermics, 35: 473-483

2006

Kohl, T., Signorelli, S., Engelhardt, I., Andenmatten Berthoud, N., Sellami, S & Rybach, L.

J. Geophys. Eng. 2, 372-385

2005

Gruber, S., King, L., Kohl, T., Herz, T., Haeberli, W., Hoelzle, M.

Permafrost & Periglacial Processes, 15, 349–357

2004

Signorelli S., Kohl T.

Global and Planetary Change, 40, 267–284

2004

Rybach, L., and Kohl, T.

Buchkapitel in: Gieré, R. and Stille, P. (Edit.): "Energy, Waste, and the Environment - A Geochemical Perspective", Geological Society of London, Special Publications no. 236, 369-380

2004

Regenauer-Lieb K., and Kohl T.

Mineralogical Magazine, 1-28

2004

Rabemanana, V., Durst, P., Bächler, D., Vuataz, F.-D., Kohl T.

Geothermics, 32, pp 645 –653

2003

Kohl, T., Andenmatten, N., and Rybach, L.

Geothermics, 32, pp. 721 –732

2003

Bächler, D., Kohl, T., and Rybach, L.

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 28, pp 431 –441

2003

Kohl, T., Speck, R., and Steinfeld, A.

Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, 26, 315-318

2002

Kohl, T., Brenni, R., and Eugster, W.J.

Geothermics, 31, 687–708

2002

Graf, F., Kohl, T., Rybach, L., Mégel, T., Sutterlütti, R., and Fuchs, R.

Felsbau, 6, 25-32

2002

Kohl, T., Signorelli, S., and Rybach, L.

Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 126, pp. 195–210

2001

Isaksen, K., Vonder Mühll, D., Gubler, H., Kohl, T., and Sollid, J. L.

Svalbard, Annals of Glaciology, 31, pp. 287-294

2000

Kohl, T.

Tectonophysics, 306, 311-324

1999

Kohl, T.

Tectonophysics, 291(1-4), 225-234

1998

Clauser C., P. Giese, E. Huenges, T. Kohl, H. Lehmann, L. Rybach, J. Šafanda, H. Wilhelm, K. Windloff & G. Zoth

J. Geophys. Res., 102(B8), pp.18417-18441

1997

Observation and simulation of non-Darcian flow transients in fractured rock

Water Resources Research, 33(3), pp.407-418

1997

Kohl T. & L. Rybach

Geophys. J. Int., 124(3), pp.756-772

1996

Kohl T. & R.J. Hopkirk

Geothermics, 24(3), pp 345-359

1995

Kohl, T., Evans, K.F., Hopkirk, R.J., & Rybach, L.

Geothermics, 24(3), pp 333-343

1995

Kohl T., F. Medici & L. Rybach

J. of Appl. Geophys, 31, pp 145-152

1994

Evans K.F., T. Kohl, L. Rybach & R.J. Hopkirk

Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, 16, pp 449-456

1993

Kohl T.

Doktorarbeit ETH Zürich, No 9802, Switzerland

1992

Romanowitz B., G. Roult & T. Kohl

Geophys. Res. Lett., 14 (12)

1987
Publications 2010-2016 - Proceedings, other
Title Author Source Date

Gaucher, E. & Kohl, T.

in 74th annual meeting of the German Geophysical Society (DGG), Karlsruhe, 10-13 March

2014

M. Schoenball, D.P. Sahara, T. Kohl 

The 6th International Symposium on In-Situ Rock Stress, Sendai, Japan 

2013

Watanabe, N., Blöcher, G., Cacace, M., Held, S., Kohl, T.

Springer Briefs in Energy

Gaucher, E. & Kohl, T. 

Soultz Geothermal Conference, Soultz-sous-Forêts, France 

2011

 Schill E., Kohl T. , Geiermann J., Baujard C., Koch S.,
Deckert H., Munoz G. and Abdelfettah Y.

Proc.Thirty-Sixth Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering Stanford University, Stanford, California 

2011

Kohl T., Schill E. and Baujard C. 

Proc. World Geothermal Congress 2010, Bali, Indonesia 

2011

Baujard C. and Kohl T.

Proc. World Geothermal Congress 2010, Bali, Indonesia

2010

 Meller C, Kohl, T.

In: World Geothermal Congress 2015

2015

Held, S., Schill, E., Pavez, M., Diaz, D., Morata, D., Kohl, T. 

In: Proceedings European Geothermal Congress, Strasbourg

2016

Nitschke, F., Held, S., Villalon, I., Mundhenk, N., Kohl, T., Neumann, T. 

In: Proceedings European Geothermal Congress, Strasbourg

2016

Held, S., Schill, E., Kohl, T.

In: HiTAC - II Workshop 2015

 

2015

Nitschke, F., Held, S., Himmelsbach, T., Kohl, T.

In: European Geothermal Workshop 2015

2015

Nitschke, F., Held, S., Mundhenk, N., Villalon, I,. Kohl, T., Neumann, T.

In: European Geothermal Workshop 2015

2015

Seithel, R., Müller, B., Steiner, U., Kohl, T., Henk, A., Stober, I.

In: EGEC European Geothermal Congress, 6 p., Strasbourg, France

2016

Held, S., Schill, E., Pavez, M., Diaz, D., Morata,D., Kohl, T.

In: Chilean Geological Conference 2015

 

2015

Kohl, T., Held, S., Schill, E.

In: Chilean Geological Conference 2015

2015

Meller C, Kohl T 

In: 3rd European geothermal Workshop, Karlsruhe, 15th-16th October 2014 2014. p 6. doi:10.13140/2.1.4055.2966

2014

Seithel R., Steiner U., Müller B., Kohl Th., Hecht Ch. 

In: 10th International Geothermal Conference, Freiburg, 15.05.2014 

2014
M. Schoenball, C. Baujard, T. Kohl and L. Dorbath In Proceeding of Stanford Geothermal Workshop, pp. 11,  Stanford 2012

M. Schoenball, C. Baujard and T. Kohl

In EAGE Sustainable Earth Science Conference, pp. 5, Valencia

2011
M. Schoenball, C. Baujard, T. Kohl and L. Dorbath Geothermiekongress 2011, 10 S., Bochum 2011

Kloditz O., Jakobs L.A., Huenges E., Kohl T.

Geothermal Energy 1 (1)

2013

Mundhenk, N., Steger, H., Kohl, T.

GRC Annual Meeting 2012, Reno, USA

2012

D.P. Sahara, T. Kohl, M. Schoenball, B. Müller 

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, T53C-2597, San Francisco, USA 

2013

M. Schoenball, E. Gaucher, F. Wellmann, T. Kohl 

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, S31F-02, San Francisco, USA 

2013

M. Schoenball, E. Gaucher, F. Wellmann, T. Kohl 

2nd European Geothermal Workshop, Strasbourg, France 

2013
C. Meller, T. Kohl and E. Gaucher

 in Proceedings 37th Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, Stanford University, pp. 8, Stanford, California

2012

Schoenball, M., & Kohl, T. 

 GRC Transactions, 37, 217–220

2013
Publications before 2010 - Proceedings, other
Title Author Source Date

Kohl, T., Mégel, T., Baria, R., Hopkirk, R. and Rybach, L.

Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2005, Antalya,Turkey, Apr. 24-29

2005

Signorelli, S., and Kohl, T.

Global and Planetary Change, in press

2003

Kohl, T., Salton, M., and Rybach, L.

In: Proc. World Geothermal Congress 2000, Kyushu-Tohoku, Japan, pp. 2671-2676

2000

Kohl., T., Bächler, D., and Rybach, L.

In: Proc. World Geothermal Congress 2000, Kyushu-Tohoku, Japan, pp. 3459-3464

2000

Jupe A., D. Bruel, T. Hicks, R.J. Hopkirk, O. Kappelmeyer, T. Kohl, O. Kolditz, N. Rodrigues, T. Wallroth, J. Willis-Richards & S. Xu

Proc. World Geothermal Congress, Florence, Italy, pp 2571-2574

1995

Kohl T., K.F. Evans, R.J. Hopkirk, R. Jung & L. Rybach

Proc. World Geothermal Congress, Florence, Italy, pp 2597-2600

1995

Kohl T., P. Marschall & L. Rybach

in: NAGRA NTB 93-47, pp 90-125, Baden, Switzerland

1995

Kohl T., K.F. Evans, R.J. Hopkirk & L. Rybach

In: L.R. Myer, N.G.W. Cook, R.E. Goodman & C.-F. Tsang (Eds), Fractured and Jointed Rock Masses, pp.535-542, Balkema, Rotterdam

1995

Kohl T., R.J. Hopkirk, K.F. Evans & L. Rybach

In: K. Morgan, E. Oñate, J. Periaux, J. Peraire, O.C. Zienkiewicz (Eds), Finite Elements in Fluids, Pineridge Press, pp 949-958

1993