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.
Latest News
Targeted funding of innovation for the energy transition
How do innovations arise and how can they be specifically encouraged for the energy transition? PSI researcher Michael Weinold has been looking into this question using LED lamps as an example.
Net zero: Taking raw materials into account
A new calculation model from PSI illustrates the complex interdependencies between technology, demand for critical raw materials, and environmental impacts on the road to climate neutrality.
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.
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
Open Positions
We are looking for Master, Semester and Project students to join the group!
MSc Thesis Openings
Semester Project Openings
The Master in Energy Science and Technology (MEST) program of ETH Zurich also advertises positions.
Open Now
MSc Thesis:
Policy Measures for the Swiss Energy Transition