Projekt Primeo Energie Kosmos

From museum to Science and Experience Centre
The Electricity Museum was opened in 1997 to mark the 100th anniversary of EBM (Elektra Birseck), and it has since offered visitors exciting insights into the cultural, social and technological history of electrification and industrialisation. Instead of taking visitors on a journey through the history of energy, we want to inspire them to think about climate and energy topics in future – for the benefit of a sustainable and future-oriented society.
The new Science and Experience Centre will open in January 2023 as one of several activities to mark the 125th anniversary of EBM (Genossenschaft Elektra Birseck).

Circular economy in construction (life cycle approach)

Waste/old materials and residual materials are valuable resources for Primeo Energie which we will continue to use as much as possible. The flows of our materials and their disposal routes are designed so that the recyclable ones are systematically separated from the residual waste. By adding reusable materials to the recycling cycles, Primeo Energie harnesses the potential of resources while minimising the amount of residual waste. The new "Faraday" construction project examines new ways to optimally implement the life cycle approach. The new building is to be constructed from recycled materials – and itself should be recyclable as well. Among other things, it uses recovered materials from the Primeo Energie site and high-voltage mast elements from Swissgrid.

• The aim is for a good 70% of the materials in the new building to originate from recycled materials or sustainable, renewable raw materials.
• The construction project is part of a study by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) to calculate the sustainable efficacy of the materials used.
• In cooperation with a research project at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), the project simulates how the recycled high-voltage mast elements can be joined and prepared for the construction, and it calculates the CO₂ savings.

The "Faraday" project (new Science Centre)
The "Faraday" project by Rapp Architects from Münchenstein won the architecture competition for the new building in 2019. The delicate, simple design adapts the basic geometric shape of four squares, with greenery growing along a three-dimensional lattice structure made of recycled high-voltage masts. There are plans to include as many ecologically compatible construction materials as possible with a low proportion of grey energy as well as recyclable materials.

Climate and energy exhibition
The new building is at the heart of the revised concept for visitors. Internally, the new building aims to give visitors a general idea about the sun, has an interactive zone for learning about climate and energy, and features workshops and an energy lab with special equipment. The visitor and knowledge centre also serves as a meeting place, an event room, a small pop-up shop, as well as a starting point for guided tours and themed walks. And its roof offers a wonderful view of the surrounding area.

The current museum is being renovated and a new multimedia exhibition is being installed. A guided tour with light and sound takes visitors to six of the world's most impressive and exciting energy locations. It mostly offers insights into renewable energies involving the sun, water and wind. But visitors also learn about interesting aspects of energy and innovation, and about all the solutions the world offers – places of energy production, technology, science and nature.

Besides the established offer for primary schools, the focus is now on the senior classes and colleges. Science labs and science shows bring natural sciences to life (MINT: Mathematics Informatics Natural Sciences Technology) in accordance with Curriculum 21.