Reiner Lemoine Institut

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.

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

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

• Renewable energy research
• Energy system modeling
• Off-grid electrification
• E-mobility infrastructure
• Open-source energy software

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OEMOF Association (Open Energy Modelling Framework)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024RLI 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)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023IAV 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)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023IKEM 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 GmbHcoreOthers · 1 October 2018Localiser 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 HydrogenminorOthers · 1 January 2015Managing 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 GießenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014RLI 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 GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013RLI 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010The 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

Broad 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

• GitHubgithub.com/rl-institut
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reiner-lemoine-institut-ggmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Reiner Lemoine Institut