EXC 2186:  The Fuel Science Center – Adaptive Conversion Systems for Renewable Energy and Carbon Sources

• Subject Area: Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry ; Chemical Solid State and Surface Research ; Social Sciences ; Fluid Mechanics, Technical Thermodynamics and Thermal Energy Engineering ; Economics
• Term: since 2019
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 390919832

The increasing availability of non-fossil energy technologies opens unprecedented possibilities to re-design the interface of energy and material value chains towards a sustainable future. The fundamen-tal research in the Cluster of Excellence "The Fuel Science Center – Adaptive Conversion Systems for Renewable Energy and Carbon Sources" (FSC) aims to integrate renewable electricity with the joint utilization of bio-based carbon feedstocks and CO2 to provide high-density liquid energy carriers ("bio-hybrid fuels"), which enable innovative engine concepts for highly efficient and clean combus-tion. FSC will generate fundamental knowledge as well as novel scientific methodologies to replace today’s fossil fuel-based static scenario by adaptive production and propulsion systems that are based on renewable energy and carbon resources under dynamic system boundaries.Current research on renewable fuels is focused on fuel replacements for present-day engine technol-ogy that are either biofuels from non-food biomass or e-fuels from CO2 capture and utilization. FSC goes far beyond this approach by defining the scientific basis for the development of bio-hybrid fuels through integrated design of production and propulsion systems. The targeted technologies are adap-tive to anticipate the increasing diversification of energy supply and carbon feedstock availability for a mobility sector in transformation. The (electro )catalytic production of fuels as well as chemicals is envisaged as an important enabler for flexible and economic value chains. Molecularly controlled combustion systems are targeted to maximize efficiency and minimize emissions during the recovery of the chemically stored renewable energy. Methodological approaches will be developed to assess and ultimately predict the environmental impact, economic viability, and societal relevance of the technical developments. FSC strengthens disciplinary competences in natural sciences, engineering sciences, and social sci-ences and converges them in a dynamic team science approach. Forward-integration occurs from fundamental science to the complex systems of fuel production, mobility, and transportation. Simulta-neously, system-level information is propagated back by inverse methodologies to enable an integrat-ed molecular and machine design.FSC capitalizes on achievements of the Cluster of Excellence "Tailor-Made Fuels from Biomass (TMFB)" to act as a structuring element at RWTH Aachen University and its partner institutions. To-gether with the Forschungszentrum Jülich and the two Max-Planck-Institutes at the Campus Mülheim, a world-class research environment will be established, which is embedded in a network of strategic partnerships with globally leading research institutions and companies. Joint appointment models for junior research groups, tenure track and lighthouse professorships will create attractive career paths within the German academic landscape.

• DFG Programme: Clusters of Excellence (ExStra)
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Participating Institution: Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH; Institut für Energie- und Klimaforschung (IEK); Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg für Erneuerbare Energien (HI ERN); Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH ; Institut für Energie- und Klimaforschung (IEK) ; Grundlagen der Elektrochemie (IEK-9); Max-Planck-Institut für Chemische Energiekonversion (CEC); Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung
• Spokespersons: Professor Dr. Walter Leitner; Professor Dr.-Ing. Stefan Pischinger
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr.-Ing. André Bardow; Professor Lars Blank, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Carsten Bolm; Professor Dr. Rüdiger-A. Eichel; Professor Dr.-Ing. Alexander Heufer; Professor Dr. Henner Hollert; Professor Dr.-Ing. Andreas Jupke; Professor Dr. Jürgen Klankermayer; Professor Dr.-Ing. Reinhold Kneer; Professor Dr. Karl Mayrhofer; Professor Alexander Mitsos, Ph.D.; Professor Dr.-Ing. Albert Moser; Professorin Dr. Regina Palkovits; Professor Dr.-Ing. Heinz Pitsch; Professorin Dr. Dörte Rother; Professor Dr. Robert Schlögl; Professorin Dr. Franziska Schoenebeck; Professor Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Schröder; Professor Dr. Ferdi Schüth; Professor Dr. Ulrich Simon; Professorin Dr. Grit Walther; Professor Dr.-Ing. Matthias Wessling; Professorin Dr. Martina Ziefle