Fraunhofer UMSICHT

Member Profile

Category: Research & Ecosystem Intelligence
Primary Role: Applied Research and Technology Provider for CO₂ Electrolysis, Water Electrolysis, CO₂-based Methanol Production and Downstream Fuel and Chemical Pathways
Area of Expertise: IP and licensing for industrial decarbonisation technologies between TRL 5 and TRL 8
Headquarters: Oberhausen, Germany
Website: www.umsicht.fraunhofer.de
Coordination Contact: Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Stießel / sebastian.stiessel@umsicht.fraunhofer.de

Relevance for Europe’s eSAF Scale-up

Europe’s eSAF scale-up requires more than production projects alone. It depends on validated technologies, scalable process chains, reliable carbon and hydrogen conversion routes, robust downstream processing, credible sustainability assessment and industrial transfer from laboratory and pilot scale toward commercial deployment.

Fraunhofer UMSICHT addresses several of these enabling layers. Its work on CO₂ electrolysis is directly relevant for sustainable chemicals and aviation fuels, including the production of carbon monoxide, ethylene, alcohols and organic acids as potential precursors for SAF pathways such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and oligomerisation.

The institute’s work on CO₂-based methanol production and downstream methanol chemistry is also relevant for eSAF and e-fuel value chains. Methanol can act as a platform molecule for downstream conversion into olefins, aromatics, gasoline-range products, higher alcohols and fuel-related intermediates.

As an applied research institute with pilot-scale infrastructure and industrial collaboration models, Fraunhofer UMSICHT can help reduce technology risk, support investment decisions and accelerate the transition from research concepts to industrial eSAF-relevant process routes.

Technology and Project Context

Fraunhofer UMSICHT develops and validates electrochemical processes for the sustainable production of hydrogen, commodity chemicals and specialty chemicals. Its Power-to-Chemicals activities include material and component development for electrolysis processes, cell and stack integration, technology evaluation and pilot-scale process development.

In CO₂ electrolysis, Fraunhofer UMSICHT supports companies in developing, validating and scaling technologies from initial validation through to industrial application. The institute addresses system-level validation, component testing, catalysts, electrodes, membranes, cell and stack designs, process integration and techno-economic feasibility.

In sustainable methanol production, Fraunhofer UMSICHT works on methanol synthesis from CO₂-containing gases and gas mixtures, laboratory and pilot-scale testing, transportable reactor systems, process simulation, multi-stage distillation and downstream methanol chemistry. This includes process and catalyst development for Methanol-to-Olefins, Methanol-to-Aromatics and Methanol-to-Gasoline pathways, as well as oligomerisation routes for high-quality fuels.

Collaboration Context

Fraunhofer UMSICHT may be relevant for organisations across the eSAF and PtL value chain, including:

• eSAF and PtL project developers

• Technology providers for CO₂ conversion and electrolysis

• Synthetic fuel producers

• Green hydrogen and CO₂ utilisation projects

• Methanol and downstream chemistry actors

• Chemical and refinery companies

• Aviation fuel producers and offtakers

• EPCs and engineering companies

• Industrial decarbonisation projects

• Investors assessing technology readiness and scale-up risk

• Public-sector and funded innovation projects

• Research and certification partners

Company Overview

Fraunhofer UMSICHT is a research institute of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, one of Europe’s leading applied research organizations. Based in Oberhausen, Germany, the institute develops sustainable technologies and strategies in the fields of circular economy, carbon management, green hydrogen, local energy systems and industrial processes.

Its interdisciplinary teams translate scientific findings into practical solutions for industry and society — from circular materials, chemical recycling and sustainable carbon use to electrochemical processes, hydrogen technologies, CO₂ conversion and digital process optimization.

By bridging the gap between applied research and industrial implementation, Fraunhofer UMSICHT supports companies in developing resource-efficient, climate-friendly products, processes and technologies for a sustainable future.

Role in the eSAF Ecosystem

Fraunhofer UMSICHT is positioned as an applied research and technology provider within the eSAF ecosystem.

The institute contributes expertise in water electrolysis, CO₂ electrolysis, CO₂-based methanol production and downstream processing routes for fuels, alcohols and chemicals, including olefins. These technology pathways are relevant for future Power-to-Liquid, synthetic aviation fuel and CO₂-based chemical value chains.

Within the eSAF ecosystem, Fraunhofer UMSICHT can support industrial actors through applied R&D, technology validation, process development, pilot-scale testing, techno-economic assessment, life cycle assessment and the provision of IP or licensing models for decarbonisation technologies between TRL 5 and TRL 8.

Area of Expertise

• Water electrolysis

• CO₂ electrolysis

• CO₂-based methanol production

• Methanol downstream chemistry

• Methanol-to-Olefins, Methanol-to-Aromatics and Methanol-to-Gasoline pathways

• Alcohols and higher alcohols

• Olefins and chemical intermediates

• Electrolysis cell, stack and component development

• Catalysts, electrodes and membranes

• Pilot-scale process validation

• Techno-economic assessment

• Life cycle assessment

• IP and licensing for industrial decarbonisation technologies

• Technology transfer between TRL 5 and TRL 8