Reiner Lemoine Institut
The Reiner Lemoine Institut is a Berlin-based non-profit applied research institute that conducts decarbonization research across energy systems, renewable mobility, and off-grid electrification. It develops open-source modeling tools and serves public agencies, development organizations, utilities, and technology firms globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Reiner Lemoine Institut does
The Reiner Lemoine Institut (RLI) is a non-profit applied research institute (gemeinnützige GmbH) headquartered in Berlin-Adlershof, founded in February 2010 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reiner Lemoine Foundation. It conducts applied research on the decarbonization of energy systems, organized around three areas: Transformation of Energy Systems, Mobility with Renewable Energy, and Off-Grid Systems. Its clients and partners include German federal and municipal authorities, development agencies (GIZ, UNEP), utilities (GASAG/EMB), and technology firms (ABB, Qinous), with project footprints across Germany, Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific. The workforce has grown from 4 employees at founding to over 80.
RLI's deliverables combine open-source software tools, geospatial analysis, and applied research publications. Its core open-source portfolio includes the oemof (Open Energy Modelling Framework) library, the OpenEnergyPlatform, the Offgridplanner, open_plan, the Community Minigrid Tool, RAMP, and Giro, supported by a proprietary database of approximately 80,000 geo-referenced islands used for off-grid electrification analysis. Tools are released under open-source licenses on GitHub, lowering adoption friction for partners and tender consortia while preserving RLI's position as the institutional anchor of the oemof ecosystem.
RLI's business model is grant- and contract-funded rather than product-revenue driven. Approximately 90% of revenue is sourced externally through public funding (German federal ministries, EU programs) and research contracts, with the remaining ~10% contributed by the Reiner Lemoine Foundation. Pricing is project-based via competitive tenders and grant applications; there is no recurring SaaS or licensing layer. The October 2018 spin-off Localiser RLI GmbH provides a complementary commercial vehicle for outputs outside the non-profit mandate, and the institute's April 2024 membership in the oemof Association formalizes its governance role in the open-source community.
Reiner Lemoine Institut firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Reiner Lemoine Institut
- Legal name
- Reiner Lemoine Institut gGmbH
- Website
- https://reiner-lemoine-institut.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Reiner Lemoine Institut is a Berlin-based non-profit applied research institute that conducts decarbonization research across energy systems, renewable mobility, and off-grid electrification. It develops open-source modeling tools and serves public agencies, development organizations, utilities, and technology firms globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Reiner Lemoine Institut industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Renewable Energy Research and Consulting
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Siting, Resource Assessment & Environmental Tech R&D (Remote Sensing, Wake Modeling, Wildlife Mitigation) (EUAMAOAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Permitting, Siting & Environmental Impact (EIA/NEPA) Advisory (EUAMANAB), Decarbonization Planning for Distribution Networks (RNG/H2 Readiness) (EUAJAEAL)
Keywords
Where Reiner Lemoine Institut is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Reiner Lemoine Institut business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Research Contracts and Consulting: The institute raises approximately 90% of its research funding from external sources including research contracts and consulting engagements with the public sector, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Services include data analysis and visualization, infrastructure planning and optimization, studies and strategic planning, energy management and systems, and research development and knowledge transfer.
- Public Funding: RLI receives public funding from federal state, national, and European levels. As a non-profit organization, it is eligible for donations according to German tax law. As of January 2021, RLI is also recognized in the USA as a non-profit, non-governmental organization eligible to accept grants from American donors.
- Reiner Lemoine Foundation Support: RLI is financially supported by the Reiner Lemoine Foundation (approximately 10% of funding), which founded the institute as a wholly-owned subsidiary in February 2010. The foundation's ongoing support supplements external research funding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Research and consulting engagements are custom-scoped per project |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Reiner Lemoine Institut product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Reiner Lemoine Institut (RLI) is an independent, non-profit research institute that conducts application-oriented research and provides consulting services to scientifically support the long-term transition of energy supply to 100% renewables. Its core offerings include energy system modeling and simulation, infrastructure planning and optimization (charging infrastructure, bus fleets, rail), off-grid electrification studies, and data analysis/visualization, delivered alongside a suite of open-source modeling tools (OpenEnergyModel, oemof, Offgridplanner, open_plan, RAMP, Giro).
Product overview
Reiner Lemoine Institut (RLI) is an independent non-profit research institute offering a portfolio of open-source software tools and research services focused on renewable energy and energy transition. Their core product suite includes OpenEnergyModel (OEM) and oemof for energy system modeling and simulation, along with specialized planning tools: Giro for rail energy optimization, Offgridplanner and Community Minigrid Tool for off-grid electrification planning, the open_plan tool for neighborhood energy cell planning, and RAMP for stochastic energy demand simulation. These tools are complemented by professional services including data analysis and visualization, energy management and systems analysis, infrastructure planning and optimization, studies and strategic planning, and research, development and knowledge transfer. RLI operates at the intersection of academic research and practical application, serving both public and private sector clients worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Reiner Lemoine Kolleg (RLK): Graduate school at RLI with doctoral candidates researching energy system transformation, funded by Reiner Lemoine Foundation scholarships.
Products and services
- Giro Simulation tool for energy consumption of battery and hydrogen trains and optimal strategies for charging and H2 refueling infrastructure in non-electrified rail network sections. Used by rail planners and mobility researchers.
- Offgridplanner
- open_plan tool
- Community Minigrid Tool
- RAMP (Stochastic User Module Simulation)
- OpenEnergyModel (OEM)
- oemof (Open Energy Modelling Framework)
- Data Analysis and Visualization
- Energy Management and Systems
- Studies and Strategic Planning
- Infrastructure Planning and Optimization
- Research, Development and Knowledge Transfer
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 80,000 geo-referenced islands mapped in RLI's island database for renewable energy market analysis
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Reiner Lemoine Institut
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Reiner Lemoine Institut technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Reiner Lemoine Institut partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OEMOF Association (Open Energy Modelling Framework)coreRLI became the first institutional member of the oemof association in April 2024 and provides a board member. RLI has been developing the oemof open-source framework since 2010, and this formal membership deepens the collaborative governance of the modeling framework. The oemof tools enable energy system modeling linking electricity, heat, and mobility sectors.
- Ingenieurgesellschaft Auto und Verkehr (IAV)minorIAV participated in the H2VL project consortium alongside RLI, Consulting for Drive (C4D), and IKEM. IAV contributed technical expertise on drive systems for the hydrogen feasibility study in Havelland district.
- Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility (IKEM)minorIKEM participated in the H2VL project consortium alongside RLI, IAV, and C4D for the hydrogen feasibility study in Havelland, providing expertise on climate protection and energy policy.
- Localiser RLI GmbHcoreLocaliser RLI GmbH is the first spin-off of Reiner Lemoine Institute, founded in October 2018. It independently develops web-based software for automated planning of EV charging infrastructure, representing a successful technology transfer from RLI's research into commercial application. RLI's experience from numerous charging infrastructure planning projects motivated the foundation of this company.
- Women in Green HydrogenminorManaging Director Kathrin Goldammer was elected board member of Women in Green Hydrogen in March 2024, representing RLI's commitment to gender equality and diversity in the hydrogen sector.
- Justus-Liebig University GießenminorRLI has a PhD supervision partnership with Justus-Liebig University Gießen, where a PhD project on comparison of off-grid electrification versus grid extension was supervised and financed by the Reiner Lemoine Foundation.
- Qinous GmbHminorRLI developed the main structure of the control system for Qinous's mini-grid test rig at Berlin Schöneweide, consisting of a diesel generator (150 kVA), energy storage system (112 kWh/100 kW), and PV simulator. RLI's work enabled Qinous to test and adapt its battery management system for mini-grid applications.
- HTW Berlin (Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin)coreThe founding managing directors (Jochen Twele and Peter Kayser) were professors at HTW Berlin. RLI implements the Code of Conduct for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice of the German Research Foundation (DFG) through a cooperation agreement with HTW Berlin. The institute was built in close proximity to HTW at its Oberschöneweide location.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Reiner Lemoine Institut competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research. Comparable to RLI in open-source modeling tools (e.g., REopt), renewable integration studies, and international development cooperation.
- International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA): Intergovernmental organization supporting countries in their energy transition with analysis, tools, and advisory services. Overlaps with RLI's international development projects in Africa, Asia, and Pacific, particularly in off-grid and mini-grid planning.
- German Aerospace Center (DLR) - Energy Research: Large federal research center with energy systems, hydrogen, and transport electrification research. Overlaps with RLI's hydrogen and mobility electrification work but operates at much greater scale and as a government agency.
- Ecofys (part of Guidehouse): International energy and sustainability consultancy (formerly Ecofys, now part of Guidehouse) providing strategic energy transition advisory. Comparable to RLI's private-sector consulting engagements, but at much larger commercial scale.
Direct peers
- Wuppertal Institut: Research institute for climate, environment, and energy with a strong applied research mandate on the German energy transition. Comparable in mission, funding structure (mix of public and project grants), and policy advisory role to RLI.
- Öko-Institut: Independent applied research institute working on environmental and sustainability policy, including energy transition. Comparable to RLI in the independent non-profit research model, policy advisory focus, and reliance on public and foundation funding.
- Fraunhofer ISE: Germany's largest applied research institute for solar energy and renewable energy systems. Directly comparable to RLI in applying scientific research to renewable energy integration, energy system modeling, and hydrogen technologies, but at materially larger scale.
- Fraunhofer IWES (now Fraunhofer IEE): Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology, focused on wind energy, grids, and sector coupling. Highly comparable to RLI's Off-Grid Systems and grid integration research, with stronger institutional backing and similar open-source software output.
- Energy Economics Institute (EWI) at University of Cologne: Academic-affiliated research institute producing energy system modeling and policy analysis for the German energy transition. Comparable to RLI's energy system analysis and sector coupling work, though anchored in university economics rather than engineering.
Emerging players
- HOMER Energy by UL: Software vendor for distributed energy and microgrid optimization (HOMER Pro), directly competing with RLI's Offgridplanner and Community Minigrid Tool in the off-grid planning segment, with a more productized commercial offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Reiner Lemoine Institut social profiles
Digital presenceReiner Lemoine Institut financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Reiner Lemoine Institut leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Reiner Lemoine Institut subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Reiner Lemoine Institut funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Reiner Lemoine Institut M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Reiner Lemoine Institut
What does Reiner Lemoine Institut do?
Reiner Lemoine Institut (RLI) is an independent, non-profit research institute that conducts application-oriented research and provides consulting services to scientifically support the long-term transition of energy supply to 100% renewables. Its core offerings include energy system modeling and simulation, infrastructure planning and optimization (charging infrastructure, bus fleets, rail), off-grid electrification studies, and data analysis/visualization, delivered alongside a suite of open-source modeling tools (OpenEnergyModel, oemof, Offgridplanner, open_plan, RAMP, Giro).
Is Reiner Lemoine Institut a public or private company?
Reiner Lemoine Institut is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Reiner Lemoine Institut founded?
Reiner Lemoine Institut was founded in 2010.
Where is Reiner Lemoine Institut based?
Reiner Lemoine Institut is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Reiner Lemoine Institut make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Research Contracts and Consulting is the primary driver. The others are public Funding and reiner Lemoine Foundation Support.
Who are Reiner Lemoine Institut's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), German Aerospace Center (DLR) - Energy Research and Ecofys (part of Guidehouse). Direct peers are Wuppertal Institut, Öko-Institut, Fraunhofer ISE, Fraunhofer IWES (now Fraunhofer IEE) and Energy Economics Institute (EWI) at University of Cologne. HOMER Energy by UL is listed as an emerging player.
Does Reiner Lemoine Institut have an API?
No public API is recorded for Reiner Lemoine Institut.
What industry is Reiner Lemoine Institut in?
Reiner Lemoine Institut's product category is Renewable Energy Research and Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAOAJ, Siting, Resource Assessment & Environmental Tech R&D (Remote Sensing, Wake Modeling, Wildlife Mitigation), with a secondary code of EUAMANAB, Permitting, Siting & Environmental Impact (EIA/NEPA) Advisory. Its NAICS code is 541715 and its SIC code is 8731.