Oliver Kröcher

Expertise Catalysis, Sustainable Energy Carriers from CO₂ and Biomass, Emission Control, Environmental Chemistry, Materials Chemistry Mission The Group for Sustainable Energy Carriers (GSE) at EPFL works on the development of catalytic processes for the production and use of carbon-neutral energy carriers and intermediates. Current Work Small-scale ammonia synthesis, using induction-heating and sorption-enhancement. Oliver Kröcher was born in Germany and received his Diploma in chemistry from the University of Wurzburg in 1993. He got his PhD at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry of the ETH Zurich in 1997. After that, he worked a couple of years for Degussa in Germany on catalytic processes for chemical production in different positions, before he returned to academia in 2001. He took over the Exhaust Gas Aftertreatment Group at the Paul Scherrer Institut (AG), working on catalysis for cleaning lean exhaust gases.In 2010, he broadened the scope of the group to catalysis for energy conversion processes in general and integrated his group in the Laboratory for Sustainable Energy Carriers and Processes at the Paul Scherrer Institut, which he leads in addition. In 2013, he became an adjunct professor at EPFL, where he leads the Group for Sustainable Energy Carriers.Oliver Kröcher received the Swiss Technology Award 2005 and the Special Prize of the ABB Schweiz AG for Saving Resources in 2005. He is member of the steering committee of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) Bioenergy and member of the extended energy commission a+ of the Swiss academies of arts and sciences. Professionals experiences Leader of Competence Center Leader of the Swiss Competence Centre for Energy Research in the field of Biomass (SCCER BIOSWEET).  2014–2021 SCCER BIOSWEETBoard Member Member of the board of directors of the Hydromethan AG, a spin-off company of the Paul Scherrer Institute. 2010–2019 Hydromethan AGHead of the Catalysis for Energy Group Leader of the Catalysis for Energy Group at the Paul Scherrer Institute. 2001–2018 Paul Scherrer InstituteHead of Catalytic Processes Research leader for all catalytic processes in the Feed Additives Division of Degussa AG.  2001–2001 Degussa AGResearch Manager Research manager for catalytic processes at Degussa AG (Germany), Feed Additives Division.Working on:   Heterogeneous gas phase reactions (propene to acrolein, ß-picoline to 3-cyanopyridine, methanol to methyl mercaptan)   Development, set-up and operation of process controlled laboratory apparatus and pilot plants   Catalyst development, quality control of catalyst production, catalyst changes in production plants   Development of process gas analysis systems   Plant process development 1997–2001 Degussa AGResearch Assistant Assistant at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry of the ETH Zurich (Switzerland).Research mentor for diploma students. 1994–1997 ETH Zürich Education Ph.D. thesis at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry | 1994 – 1997 ETH Zürich Directed by Prof. Dr. Alfons Baiker Chemistry | 1988 – 1993 Universität Würzburg Teaching & PhD PhD Students Gabriela-Teodora Dutca, Daniel Camilo Cano Blanco, Marie-Gabrielle Ameres, Alexander Rauch, Clemens Patrick Wöllhaf, Hugo Pétremand, Chiara Berretta, John Mark Christian Dela Cruz, Marianela Lopez Romero, Lukas Schlagenhauf, Mauro Andrea Pappagallo, Min Li Tan Past EPFL PhD Students Adrian Marberger, Patrick Simon Steiger, David Ferdinand Scholz, Thibault Xavier Florian Fovanna, Christophe Jean Baranowski, Christopher Marc Hunston, Rob Jeremiah G. Nuguid, Maneka Claire Roger, Moyu Wang, David Beat Dempfle, Andreas Gantenbein, Anna Zabilska, Philipp Fedor Riechmann, Filippo Buttignol, Cheng Chang, Federico Cambiè Courses Catalysis for emission control and energy processes ChE-410 The course is an introduction to heterogeneous catalysis for environmental protection and energy production. It focuses on catalytic exhaust gas cleaning as well as gaseous and liquid fuel production. The course content is intensified in experimental exercises in the lecturer's laboratories. Awards Swiss Technology Award 2005 Special Environmental Prize 2005 ABB Schweiz AG 2005