Technology Assessment Group

The Technology Assessment group is part of the multi-disciplinary Laboratory for Energy systems Analysis (LEA) at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and is the continuation of the former GaBE Project. Technology Assessment incorporates a comprehensive range of research areas to achieve three main objectives:

To improve understanding and thereby enable comparisons of current energy technologies and future energy options for the electricity, heating and transport sectors based on environmental, economic and socially relevant factors.
To provide quantitative, systematic, and interdisciplinary assessments of energy technologies and energy supply strategies through the development and application of consistent methodological frameworks and databases.
To support rational decision-making for sustainable development in the Swiss and international energy sectors, and to communicate balanced research findings to decision-makers and stakeholders.

TA framework.jpg — Figure 1: Analytical framework for comprehensive technology assessment.

Latest News

31.03.2025

•Energie et climat

•6 min

Neutralité carbone: inclure les matières premières

Énergies renouvelables Transition énergétique Systèmes énergétiques

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.

collage of different residential buildings

04.03.2025

•Energy and Climate

Decarbonizing Building Construction

Energy transition Climate

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.

28.10.2024

•17 min

Une promesse complexe

Énergies renouvelables Environnement Transition énergétique Atmosphère Climat Mobilité

Une aviation climatiquement neutre n’implique pas seulement de réduire les émissions des vols. Une étude du PSI analyse ce qui sera nécessaire pour atteindre cet objectif à long terme.

Latest Publications

Weinold, M. P., McKenna, R. (2025). Letter to the Editor regarding “Methodological framework for life cycle assessment of sustainable aviation (SA) systems”. Science of The Total Environment. Volume 979. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179314

Hahn Menacho, A. J., Sacchi, R., Bauer, C., Moretti, C., Panos, E., McKenna, R., Burgherr, P. (2025). The global environmental footprint of Switzerland’s net-zero energy system uncovers impacts abroad. Communications Earth & Environment. doi: 10.1038/s43247-025-02220-5

Hahn Menacho, A. J., Sacchi, R., Bauer, C., Panos, E., McKenna, R., Burgherr, P. (2025). The material-energy nexus in net-zero transition scenarios: exploring environmental trade-offs and uncertainties. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108251