Nicolaus Dahmen

Nicolaus Dahmen is a Professor and Lead Scientist at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where he heads the Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass group at the Institute for Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT). He has been integral to KIT since 1992, initially joining the Karlsruhe Research Center, and has held leadership positions including head of the High-Pressure Process Engineering Department from 2000.

His educational background includes:

• Chemistry studies at Ruhr University Bochum
• Doctorate in mixed-phase thermodynamics (1992)
• Habilitation in process development using supercritical fluids at the University of Heidelberg (2010)

Dahmen's research centers on thermochemical biomass conversion for sustainable fuel production, with expertise in high-pressure processes, supercritical fluids, and reaction engineering. He pioneered the bioliq® pilot plant for synthetic biofuels and develops innovative separation techniques bridging fundamental chemistry with industrial-scale applications in renewable energy systems.

His scientific recognition includes:

• UNIDO Blue Sky Award (2006)
• Silver certificate of the German Business Innovation Award (2008)

As an educator, Dahmen coordinates KIT's specialization in Production Processes for Renewable Raw Materials with the University of Hohenheim, lectures at Heidelberg University, and teaches energy-focused courses at the Master's level. He leads major collaborative projects including reFuels (with Daimler, Bosch, Porsche), ValProWa (process water valorization), and EU-funded AMBITION/BRISK2 initiatives advancing next-generation biofuel technologies.

He directs thermochemical biomass conversion research at IKFT, driving KIT's bioliq® pilot plant operations while representing Germany in international bioenergy platforms like IEA Bioenergy Task 39 and EERA Bioenergy.