Experience the energy transition
With the increasing expansion of solar and wind power plants, the integration of irregularly generated electricity into the existing energy system is becoming a challenge. A new visitor station at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI now aims to make this complex topic understandable in a playful way. It tells the story of a Swiss city that is switching from a conventional energy supply to an energy supply with new renewable energies.
The federal government's Energy Strategy 2050 envisages an expansion of new renewable energies from the sun, wind and biomass. But solar and wind power plants in particular still pose major challenges to the energy system. They produce electricity depending on the weather, and if they produce too much of it, the valuable electricity is lost because the power grid cannot absorb it.
One promising solution to this problem is to convert the excess electricity into energy-rich gases such as hydrogen or methane. These can be stored well and used when needed or converted back into electricity. This technology, known as "power-to-gas", is the focus of the ESI platform (ESI stands for "Energy System Integration") commissioned at PSI at the end of 2016. The ESI platform has a modular design as a container village. On it, partners from research and industry can investigate the technical feasibility of different variants of power-to-gas technology on a pilot scale.
The new ESI visitor station
A new visitor station now aims to make the ESI platform and its possible contribution to the energy supply of the future understandable to a broad audience. The aim is to convey the complex interrelationships between the political program (Energy Strategy 2050), the challenges (irregularly generated electricity while maintaining grid balance) and the solution approach (power-to-gas) in an entertaining and playful way.
Welcome to Esiville
At the center of the ESI visitor station is a diorama featuring the interactive model city of Esiville. Populated by Playmobil play figures, it tells the story of a Swiss town that is switching from a conventional energy supply to one based on new renewable energies. The switch is triggered by a devastating storm. But it soon becomes clear that the development of new renewable energy alone is not enough to ensure a secure energy supply. Ways must be found to store the irregularly generated electricity from solar and wind plants over the long term.
Learning through interaction
Visitors can find out for themselves how to solve the problem using a model construction site. They build an ESI platform in miniature format and see how the different variants of power-to-gas technology can contribute to a successful energy transition. The model construction site is linked back to the diorama and provides visitors with direct feedback on construction progress. After all, life in the city can only continue as usual once the various technologies have been implemented. An "X-ray station" reveals exactly which technology is in which container: visitors can use it to penetrate right into the interior of the model containers and learn about the key aspects of the technologies investigated on the ESI platform.
Guided tours
The new ESI visitor station can be explored as part of a guided tour at PSI. The visitors will be guided through the complex topic by an expert. The offer is free of charge. Prior registration with an appointment is required. Further information is available at the Website of the psi forum visitor center.
Text: PSI/Martina Gröschl
