Paul Kohlenbach

Prof. Paul Kohlenbach holds the position of Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering/Renewable Energy at BHT Berlin, leading the Mechanical Engineering – Renewable Energies (M.Eng) program. He is affiliated with Faculty VIII, specializing in Mechanical, Process, and Event Technology. His expertise spans refrigeration technologies, solar energy systems, hydrogen technologies, and energy storage.

• Education: PhD (Dr.-Ing.) from TU Berlin (2003-2006), Dipl.-Ing. in Energy and Process Engineering (TU Berlin, 1996-2000), with international stints at ANU, University of Auckland, and TU Darmstadt.
• International Roles: Member of the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) Management Committee and German delegate to IIR's Executive Committee, as well as Subtask Leader for the IEA SHC Task 65 on Solar Cooling in Sunbelt Regions.

Research focuses on solar cooling, renewable energy integration, and sustainable technologies. Key areas include photovoltaic-driven cooling systems, hydrogen energy, and thermal modeling. Awards include the Denis Joseph Award (2009) and WR Ahern Award (2011).

Teaching responsibilities include courses on thermodynamics, solar systems, and renewable energy engineering at both bachelor’s and master’s levels. He supervises PhD candidates working on atmospheric water harvesting and waste heat recovery from PEM electrolysis.

• Grants: Leadership in IEA Task 65 and contributions to EU-funded projects on energy systems and building renovation.
• Labs/Teams: Active in the KEE Laboratory at BHT Berlin, developing test facilities for direct air capture of CO₂ and atmospheric water harvesting.