The interdivisional PSI Laboratory for Energy Systems Analysis conducts analytical research on diverse energy technologies and systems.
It unites specific analytical research concerning diverse energy technologies and systems, including nuclear, fossil and (modern) renewables. In cooperation with external partners (e.g. the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETHZ) and many others), LEA carries out energy systems analyses relevant for energy policy issues as well as safety analysis based on Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) and focused on Human Reliability Assessment (HRA). LEA is led by Prof. Dr. Russell McKenna and monitored by a Steering Committee consisting of Prof. Dr. Andreas Pautz (NES Div. Head) and Prof. Thomas J. Schmidt (ENE Div. Head). In April 2017, Stefan Hirschberg retired after serving as the Head of the laboratory since its establishment in 2006. He is now a Senior Level Advisor, contributing to the leadership and continuity of selected activities. Since February 2022, LEA is strongly linked to the Chair of Energy Systems Analysis at the D-MAVT Department of ETHZ.
The LEA areas of activities fall into three main areas:
Lab News & Scientific Highlights
Neutralité carbone: inclure les matières premières
Un nouveau modèle de calcul du PSI visualise les interactions complexes entre technologie, besoins en matières premières critiques et impacts environnementaux nécessaires à la transition du système énergétique vers «zéro émission nette» de gaz à effet de serre.
Decarbonizing Building Construction
The buildings we live and work in are changing – becoming smarter, more efficient, and powered by cleaner energy. But while we’ve made strides in reducing operational emissions, there’s a hidden carbon footprint that remains largely overlooked: the emissions locked into the materials themselves.
«Le plus grand défi est le manque d'acceptation des éoliennes»
Russell McKenna, expert dans l’analyse des systèmes énergétiques, explique à ETH-News quelles sont, selon lui, les mesures les plus importantes à prendre pour développer l’énergie éolienne.
Publications
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Brazzola N, Meskaldji A, Patt A, Tröndle T, Moretti C
The role of direct air capture in achieving climate-neutral aviation
Nature Communications. 2025; 16: 588 (12 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55482-6
DORA PSI -
Hahn Menacho AJ, Sacchi R, Bauer C, Panos E, McKenna R, Burgherr P
The material-energy nexus in net-zero transition scenarios: exploring environmental trade-offs and uncertainties
Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2025; 218: 108251 (12 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108251
DORA PSI -
Huang H, Metzger DJ, Siskos E, Burgherr P
Analyzing Swiss energy policy through a fuzzy BWM-PROMETHEE approach: a socio-political multi-criteria decision analysis
In: Rezaei J, Brunelli M, Mohammadi M, eds. Proceedings of the fifth international workshop on best–worst method (BWM2024). Lecture notes in operations research. Cham: Springer Nature; 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76766-1
DORA PSI