The OWI Oel-Waerme-Institut gGmbH was again confirmed as an "affiliated institute of the RWTH Aachen". The Rectorate of RWTH Aachen University approves external institutions as affiliated institutions if they perform excellent scientific work, complement the research portfolio of the university with research and development projects that serve to transfer technology to the industry. OWI researches and develops concepts and technologies in the fields of energy-efficient use of conventional and alternative liquid fuels as well as innovative efficiency technologies.

How the climate targets can be achieved is being investigated in various research projects based on ecological, economic and social criteria. One possible approach is the sustainable production and use of synthetic fuels. The gradual substitution of petroleum-based fuels could make the emissions from internal combustion engines climate-neutral and significantly less polluting in the long term. In cooperation with partners from academia, research and industry, the Oel-Waerme-Institut's focus today is on such technically sophisticated, low-emission and low-greenhouse gas solutions for tomorrow's mobility and heat generation.

The "C³-Mobility" research project, which has recently started, is to investigate pathways for various climate-neutral, electricity-based fuels. They are produced from CO2, water and renewable electricity. An evaluation carried out in advance showed that the "methanol path" offers good conditions for meeting the above-mentioned requirements. Renewable methanol can be produced in large quantities at relatively manageable efforts and then easily transported as a liquid energy source. The goal of the technologies in question is to make a significant contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions in the short term is estimated to be very high and is therefore being investigated in this project.

To achieve the European Union's climate protection targets, greenhouse gas emissions must be cut down to 80% compared to 1990 levels by 2050, while in road transport, this will require 60% reduction in emissions. Nowadays road transport is still almost entirely based on conventional fuels and internal combustion engines. One pathway could be to gradually replace fossil fuels, on one hand by introducing electric mobility to cover short distances and on the other hand by introducing low-CO2 2nd generation liquid bio-based fuels to the market to ensure mobility over long distances.

The OWI Oel-Waerme-Institut celebrates its 20th birthday this autumn. The non-profit research institute was founded in Aachen in 1998 and has been an affiliated institute of RWTH Aachen University since 2007. After its foundation, the OWI experienced a rapid growth with an expansion of its research topics and can look back on the successful implementation of numerous important research projects.

In a joint research project, the Gas- und Wärme-Institut Essen e. V. (GWI) and the OWI Oel-Waerme-Institut (OWI) have designed, manufactured and tested a combined biofuel burner for the generation of industrial process heat. In addition to low-calorific gases, the burner can also burn liquid biogenic fuels, such as vegetable oil, in an effective, reliable manner with low emissions.