REINER LEMOINE INSTITUT GGMBH

Their core work

The Reiner Lemoine Institut is a Berlin-based non-profit research institute specializing in renewable energy systems, energy planning, and the transition to 100% renewable energy supply. They develop energy system models, analyze policy measures for decarbonisation, and design integrated energy management solutions — particularly for energy communities and island-like energy systems. Their work bridges technical energy research with societal engagement, including open science approaches to photovoltaics and long-term EU-Africa renewable energy cooperation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

RLI's early H2020 work (2016-2018) centred on open science, citizen engagement, and responsible research and innovation in the photovoltaics domain — a more methodological and society-oriented entry point. By 2018-2020, their focus shifted decisively toward applied energy systems: multi-vector energy management, storage, business models for energy communities, and decarbonisation. The addition of LEAP-RE signals a geographic expansion into Africa-Europe renewable energy partnerships, suggesting growing international ambition beyond their European base.

RLI is moving from methodological energy research toward applied, community-scale energy management and international renewable energy partnerships — expect them to seek projects combining local energy systems with global South cooperation.

How they like to work

RLI operates exclusively as a project participant, never as coordinator — suggesting they contribute specialized analytical and modelling expertise within larger consortia rather than leading project management. With 118 unique partners across just 4 projects, they work in very large international consortia (averaging ~30 partners per project). This makes them an experienced team player comfortable in complex, multi-partner environments, though their role tends toward focused technical contribution rather than consortium orchestration.

Despite only 4 projects, RLI has built a remarkably wide network of 118 partners across 42 countries — reflecting their participation in large-scale, internationally diverse consortia. Their geographic reach extends well beyond Europe into Africa through the LEAP-RE partnership.

What sets them apart

RLI combines hard energy system modelling with a strong commitment to participatory and open science methods — a rare combination among energy research institutes. Their Berlin base and non-profit structure (gGmbH) make them an independent, mission-driven partner without commercial bias, which is attractive for publicly funded projects requiring credible, open analysis. Their emerging EU-Africa focus adds a distinctive international dimension that few mid-sized German energy research centres offer.

Highlights from their portfolio

• E-LAND
  Largest project by funding (€424K), focused on the practically relevant topic of integrated multi-vector energy management for energy communities — their most applied and commercially relevant work.
• LEAP-RE
  A massive long-term EU-Africa renewable energy partnership (2020-2026) demonstrating RLI's expansion into global development-oriented energy research, though their small funding share (€9K) suggests a minor role.
• GRECO
  Distinctive for combining photovoltaics research with open science and citizen science methodologies — reflects RLI's unusual ability to bridge technical energy work with societal engagement.