Michael Kresta, BSc MSc

Doctoral Student +43 512 2070 - 3251 michael.kresta@mci.edu

Professional work experience

05/2022 - present
Dissertant - MCI Management Center Innsbruck
Dissertant in the topic of waste wood gasification in the Josef Ressel Centre for production of powdered activated carbon from municipal wood residues
01/2021 - 03/2022
Project Assistant - MCI Management Center Innsbruck
HighCon - increasing the charcoal conversion rate in the gasification system
11/2020 - 05/2021
Installation Technician - Syneco tec GmbH
Project-based installation of photovoltaic systems
01/2020 - 12/2020
Project Assistant - MCI Management Center Innsbruck
Charcoal as an additive in sewage sludge treatment - CharAdd
10/2018 - 04/2019
Project Assistant - MCI Management Center Innsbruck
AFB- Advanced Functionalisation of Biochar - Regional, sustainable supply of activated carbon as a co-product of a modern wood-fired power plant
03/2018 - 06/2018
Intern - Syncraft Engineering GmbH
Internship in research and development at the Powerbox test facility, Service work on commercial plants
07/2015 - 08/2018
Guide and event leader - Teamgeist Süd GmbH
Management, organization and supervision of teambuilding events for companies in German and English language
04/2012 - 09/2012
Intern - Roche Diagnostics GmbH
Internship in automation technology

Education

04/2023 - present
Dr. nat. techn. - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
Altholzvergasung
10/2019 - 11/2021
MSc - MCI Management Center Innsbruck
Environmental, Process & Energy Engineering
10/2015 - 09/2018
BSc - MCI Management Center Innsbruck
Environmental, Process & Energy Engineering
09/2002 - 06/2014
Abitur - Gymnasium

Teaching (faculty internships etc.)

12/2022 - 12/2022
MCI Management Center Innsbruck
Winter School: Renewable Energy / Sustainable Energy Systems

Peer reviewed journal article

M. Kresta, D. Weilguni, J. Keifenheim, J. Krüger, R. Salchner, A. Hofmann, C. Pfeifer, Performance evaluation of a novel two-stage waste wood gasifier: Influence of steam-to-biomass ratio and in-situ steam generation on tar formation, Fuel Processing Technology 279 (2025) 108358. doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2025.108358.
D. Gurtner, M. Kresta, M. Maurer, J. Haselwanter, A. Hofmann, C. Pfeifer, Self-sustained physical activation at pilot-scale integrated in a commercial wood gasification plant: A path to renewable activated carbon, PAH removal and electrical efficiency improvement, Fuel Processing Technology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2025.108235. (2025)
M. Kresta, D. Gurtner, L. Nohel, A. Hofmann, C. Pfeifer, Experimental study and characterisation of a novel two stage bubbling fluidised bed gasification process utilising municipal waste wood, Fuel Processing Technology, Volume 266, (2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2024.108156.
D. Gurtner, M. Kresta, B. Hupfauf, P. Götz, R. Nussbaumer, A. Hofmann, C. Pfeifer. Mechanical strength characterisation of pyrolysis biochar from woody biomass, Energy, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.129366

Peer reviewed academic/professional meeting proceedings

M.Kresta, D.Weilguni, J.Krueger, A.Hofmann, C.Pfeifer: Operational Experience with a Two-Stage Bubbling Fluidized Bed Gasifier for Mixed Waste Wood Feedstock. 8th Central European Biomass Conference CEBC2026, 21st – 23rd of January, 2026, Graz, Austria, ISBN 978-3-9504380-9-3
D. Gurtner, M. Kresta, M. Maurer, J. Haselwanter, A. Hofmann, C. Pfeifer, Integration of Physical Activation into Industrial Wood Gasification Plant: Activated Carbon Production, PAH Removal and Electrical Efficiency Improvement, EUBCE - European Biomass Conference & Exhibition 2025, 9th - 12th of June, 2025 Valencia, Spain, ISBN 978-88-89407-25-7
Keifenheim, J., Martini, S., Krüger, J., Widmann, G., Kickinger, F., Pichler, M., Kresta, M., Weilguni, D.: Green Heat for Industry - 150 kW Tests of a Novel Lean Gas Burner with Waste Wood Gasification Derived Green Fuel Gas Including CO2-separation. Proceedings of the 33rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition. doi: 10.5071/33rdEUBCE2025-3AV.6.11, ISBN: 978-88-89407-25-7
M.Kresta, D.Weilguni, J.Krueger, A.Hofmann, C.Pfeifer: A novel two stage bubbling fluidized bed gasification process - Practical Insights from gasification of mixed waste wood fractions. 19th “Minisymposium Chemical and Process Engineering” & 10th Austrian Partikel Forum, 1st – 2nd of July, 2025, Innsbruck, Austria, ISBN: 978-3-200-10576-8
Kresta, M., Gurtner D., Hofmann A., Pfeifer C., Characterisation and gasification of waste wood fractions in a staged process, Minisymposium Verfahrenstechnik, BOKU Vienna, AUT, 2023.
D. Gurtner, M. Kresta, A. Hofmann, C.Pfeifer: Lab-scale production of activated carbon from gasification residues via thermochemical CO2 activation. Proceedings of the 17th Minisymposium Verfahrenstechnik, Vienna, Austria, pp. 28-32, ISBN: 978-3-900397-08-1

Presentation of a paper at a conference, workshop or seminar

M.Kresta, D.Weilguni, J.Krueger, A.Hofmann, C.Pfeifer: Operational Experience with a Two-Stage Bubbling Fluidized Bed Gasifier for Mixed Waste Wood Feedstock. 8th Central European Biomass Conference CEBC2026, 21st – 23rd of January, 2026, Graz, Austria
D. Gurtner, M. Kresta, M. Maurer, J. Haselwanter, A. Hofmann, C. Pfeifer, Integration of Physical Activation into Industrial Wood Gasification Plant: Activated Carbon Production, PAH Removal and Electrical Efficiency Improvement, EUBCE - European Biomass Conference & Exhibition 2025, 9th - 12th of June, 2025 Valencia, Spain, ISBN 978-88-89407-25-7
Jascha Keifenheim, Stefan Martini, Jan Krueger, Gabriel Widmann, Florian Kickinger, Michael Pichler, Michael Kresta, David Weilguni: Green Heat for Industry – 150 kW tests of a novel lean gas burner with waste wood gasification derived green fuel including CO2-separation. Oral presentation at EUBCE 25, Valencia, 2025
M. Kresta, S. Hackl, A. Hofmann, C. Pfeifer: Comparative Assessment of Solid Phase Adsorption Methodologies for Tar Quantification in Biomass Gasification. 18th “Minisymposium Verfahrenstechnik” & 9th Partikelforum, 1st – 2nd of July, 2024, Graz, Austria
D. Gurtner, M. Maurer, M. Kresta, A. Hofmann, C.Pfeifer: Production of activated carbon: physical activation of gasification carbon in pilot scale. 18th “Minisymposium Verfahrenstechnik” & 9th Partikelforum, 1st – 2nd of July, 2024, Graz, Austria
M. Kresta, D. Gurtner, A. Hofmann, C.Pfeifer: Gasification of waste wood fractions in a staged process – characterization of resulting bio-char. Bio-Char III: Production, Characterization and Applications (ECI Conference), 17th – 22th of September, 2023, Tomar, Portugal
D. Gurtner, M. Kresta, A. Hofmann, C.Pfeifer: Biochar post-processing – thermochemical activation of gasification carbon. Bio-Char III: Production, Characterization and Applications (ECI Conference), 17th – 22th of September, 2023, Tomar, Portugal
D. Gurtner, M. Kresta, A. Hofmann, C.Pfeifer: Production of Activated Biochar – Thermochemical Activation of Gasification Residues. BioChar Summit, 2023, Helsingborg, Sweden
D. Gurtner, M. Kresta, A. Hofmann, C.Pfeifer: Production of Sustainable Activated Carbon – Thermochemical Activation of Gasification Carbon in a Lab-scale Fluidized Bed Reactor. Poster at 7th Central European Biomass Conference (CEBC) 2023, Congress Graz, Austria, ISBN 978-3-9504380-6-2
Kresta, M., Gurtner D., Hofmann A., Pfeifer C., Gasification of waste wood fractions in a floating fixed bed gasifier. Presentation at the 7th Central European Biomass Conference CEBC 2023, Graz, AT
D. Gurtner: Herstellung von Pulveraktivkohle aus Vergaserkohle mittels thermochemischer Aktivierung. 22. Fachkongress für Holzenergie, 2022, Congress Würzburg, Germany

Supervised bachelor theses

Lutz Jonas (2024): Charakterisierung der Strömungsdynamik und Vergleich der Effizienz sowie Gasqualität in zwei Altholz-Vergasungsreaktoren
Elb Johannes (2024): Untersuchung der Teermessung durch Festphasen-Adsorption im Vergleich zu nasschemischen Methoden an einer Pilot-Biomassevergasungsanlage
Auer Christoph (2024): Analysemethoden für Teere in Produktgasen: Eine Literaturrecherche zur Evaluierung von verschiedenen analytischen Techniken und ihrem Vergleich zum Tar-Protocol
Walker Marco (2023): Optimierung der Pyrolyse von Altholz in Bezug Temperatur und Verweilzeit in einer mehrstufigen Schwebefestbettvergasung