The energy transition is a complex transition that not only involves technological, economic, and legal changes. Currently, one of the biggest challenges is to involve people in this process and making them aware of the urgency of the energy and climate problem. There are various ways to inspire people and raise awareness about the energy transition, and one of these tools is the We-Energy Game. The project leader of the We-Energy Game, Mathieu Przybyla, explains how this game works.
“The We-Energy Game is a serious game, a board game used to draw attention to energy transition, sustainability, and changes in the local environment,” says Mathieu. “The main goal of the game is to make people aware of the energy transition and to encourage them to think about what is changing in their immediate surroundings and why it’s necessary.” In the game, you work together with a group of people to make an existing city, town, or region electrically neutral. This requires considering various factors, such as generating enough energy to supply the town while keeping people satisfied with the solution. The aim is to give each factor the same number of points, through which you are constructively collaborating to find solutions that keep everyone satisfied.
The game helps prevent either-or thinking and promotes interesting discussions, allowing people to consider a broader range of options and arrive at intriguing insights. It focuses specifically on electricity and the local environment, rather than large-scale projects like those in the North Sea. The game is primarily played with municipal councils and residents. “The combination of these two parties is interesting because that’s where you get the most substance,” Mathieu explains. “A game like this is a way to bring these parties closer together and let the conversation go in all directions, allowing everyone to share their opinion.”
A game like the We-Energy Game has added value because it brings multiple parties together. In the energy transition, there are many different stakeholders, each with their own perspective on the story. “The beauty of the game is that it originated from research, which means you’re not playing with fictional data. For example, various lifecycle analyses have been conducted for all the different energy sources in the game. Of course, it is a game and is played with points instead of euros or kilowatts.” A large number of students from Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen were also involved in the research conducted and the development of the game.
Several spin-offs have since emerged from the game. While the We-Energy Game focuses on achieving electrical energy neutrality in an environment, other changes are also important. “The transition to sustainable heat is another important aspect of the energy transition,” as Mathieu explains. “That’s why we now also have a game called the We Heat Game, as heat represents about half of our energy consumption. In the long term, we hope to contribute to accelerating the energy transition with various games. With our games, we stimulate discussions and create awareness.”
