EXC 2186:  The Integrated Fuel & Chemical Science Center – Adaptive Conversion Systems for Sustainable Energy Carriers & Chemicals

• Subject Area: Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry ; Molecular Chemistry ; 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 future will be renewable! Shaping a post-fossil era mandates the development of disruptive technologies for the production and use of liquid energy carriers and chemical products as basis for a truly sustainable energy-chemistry nexus within the planetary boundaries. Energyrich molecules harnessing renewable energy jointly with renewable material feedstocks offer an important contribution to the defossilization of the transport sector. This applies especially to long-haul, heavy duty, and non-road applications, which are difficult or even impossible to electrify, yet have significant contributions to the total energy demand. At the same time, energyrich molecules are essential components for a net-zero production of chemicals serving as the foundation for nutrition, health, and prosperity. In this complex and highly dynamic context, The Integrated Fuel & Chemical Science Center (FSC²) takes a systems approach to generate fundamental knowledge and novel scientific methods for the development of adaptive technical solutions to valorize renewable resources into liquid energy carriers and chemicals. Based on previous achievements, the integral rather than competitive use of renewable electricity together with feedstocks from atmospheric, biogenic, and industrial sources forms the basis of the FSC² design framework for what we define as bio-hybrid fuels and chemicals. Nitrogen-based substances such as ammonia are included to critically assess their potential as molecular energy carriers and chemical building blocks. In addition to thermal energy conversion, electrochemical devices for recuperating chemically stored energy are studied, and the applicability of molecularly controlled combustion systems to existing vehicle technology is considered. Novel concatenated synthetic pathways and translational catalytic processes for the (co-)production of fuels and chemicals are explored and validated. Resilient and adaptive fuel & chemical conversion systems are designed in an integrated approach bridging scales from molecules to supply chains. RWTH Aachen University and its strategic partners Forschungszentrum Jülich and Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion are ideally positioned to establish an integrated research center, embedded in the structural framework of the RWTH Profile Area “Energy, Chemical and Process Engineering” and the “Jülich Aachen Research Alliance”. The research activities are organized in five Strategic Research Areas integrating individual project work in a dynamic teams approach, and embracing diversity on all levels as a major driver for creativity. Establishing five junior research groups and mentoring programs for early-stage researchers offer attractive career opportunities ranging from academic trajectories to entrepreneurship. FSC² will catalyze structural developments at the partner institutions by twelve strategic appointments including new and inter-institutional professorships.

• DFG Programme: Clusters of Excellence (ExStra)
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Participating Institution: Forschungszentrum Jülich; Max-Planck-Institut für Chemische Energiekonversion (CEC)
• Spokespersons: Professor Dr. Walter Leitner; Professor Dr.-Ing. Stefan Pischinger
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Katrin Arning; Professor Dr.-Ing. Niklas von der Aßen; Professor Lars Blank, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Rüdiger-A. Eichel; Professorin Dr. Kathrin Greiff; Professorin Dr. Sonja Herres-Pawlis; Professor Dr.-Ing. Alexander Heufer; Professor Dr.-Ing. Andreas Jupke; Professor Dr. Jürgen Klankermayer; Professor Dr. Lars Lauterbach; Professorin Carmen Leicht-Scholten, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Karl Mayrhofer; Professorin Dr. Anna K. Mechler; Professor Alexander Mitsos, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Regina Palkovits; Professor Dr.-Ing. Heinz Pitsch; Professorin Dr. Dörte Rother; Professorin Dr. Franziska Schoenebeck; Professor Dr. Ulrich Simon; Professor Dr. Siegfried R. Waldvogel; Professorin Dr. Grit Walther; Professor Dr.-Ing. Matthias Wessling; Professorin Dr. Mirijam Zobel