Thomas Kohl

Thomas Kohl is Professor of Geothermal Energy at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), holding the EnBW Endowed Professorship since 2010. He serves as spokesperson for KIT's geothermal research initiatives and deputy director of the Baden-Württemberg State Research Center for Geothermal Energy (LFZG), advancing geothermal energy as a baseload, low-CO₂ power source for the energy transition.

His research targets hydraulic stimulation techniques for deep geothermal reservoirs (3-5 km depth), analyzing rock mechanics and stress fields to prevent micro-earthquakes and groundwater contamination. Kohl evaluates data from Soultz-sous-Forêts and Bruchsal sites to model geomechanical behavior, emphasizing environmental safety distinct from shale gas fracking. He leads the GeoLaB project—an underground laboratory in a disused Black Forest mine—to study three-dimensional rock stimulation processes at real-world scales.

Kohl collaborates with KIT's Institute of Mineralogy and Geochemistry on interdisciplinary solutions for groundwater protection and corrosion-resistant materials. His work leverages Baden-Württemberg's high-temperature geothermal potential (over 170°C at 3 km depth) to support district heating and electricity generation, addressing the state's goal of 90% greenhouse gas reduction by 2050 through sustainable heat-sector decarbonization.