Gamification Of The Energy Industry

While gamification may not be the first thing one thinks of when it comes to conserving energy and studying usage dynamics, it can be useful as a learning tool and actually makes lots of sense. While some might enjoy spending time saving the world by buying energy in games like Valorant (take this character whose energy can fuel its quest to ward off doom and gloom), in the real world gamification has become a way for both consumers and professionals to learn about and address energy issues and indulge pure curiosity. Add in artificial intelligence and you have a recipe for real potential.

So what is gamification? Gamification involves applying game theory to non-game situations. It looks at mathematical patterns to study how decisions can impact others. In this case, it considers people’s behavior related to energy use and ranges from group challenges to usage and production activities by corporations. This can help create strategies for optimizing energy use and fulfilling goals such as reducing energy costs, reducing carbon emissions, enhancing sustainability, and complying with regulations.

While it’s important to understand what gamification hopes to accomplish in regard to energy, one of the best ways to understand how gamification works is to look at examples. Take the FEEdBACk Project, which uses an app to encourage consumers to understand and improve their energy consumption practices. There are many other apps doing similar things, and it’s an example of how simple concepts can be turned into a fun learning experience.

Wind power provides a real example of gamification in the energy sector. Buyers of wind power have largely moved to a tender-based system and away from a model based on direct negotiation between parties. Sales, contracts and maintenance have all been impacted. This has required staff training, which Vestas, a Danish wind turbine manufacturer, has chosen to accomplish with a video game called Merchants. This course transports players to fifteenth-century Venice to face negotiations and become the best merchant. This teaches negotiation best practices along with problem-solving skills. Students create proposals and come to agreements with difficult negotiations.

Minecraft has not escaped energy gamification, and EIT InnoEnergy, a European energy organization, created a module inside Minecraft teaching young players about renewable energy for free. Called Lumen, the module allows players to build a sustainably-powered Minecraft city and involves a STEM curriculum. Immersive worlds are also included, built by Blockworks, a Minecraft builder.

Grid balancing is another important area where gamification has been used. UK utility Northern Powergrid completed a gamification trial incentivizing households to reduce energy consumption at peak times with a mobile game. Over 2,000 customers could win cash by turning off unused appliances such as televisions, lights and dishwashers to save points – increasing their chances to win up to 350 GBP total available per month. An average of 11 percent at 305W was saved by players, and some even dropped usage by up to 4.9kWh during the game. The company considers it a success, and has gone on to work on a project to incentivize EV owners to make use of charging technologies to support the grid.

Yet another aspect of the energy industry being “gamified” is safety training. Game developer Serious Games Interactive has developed game courses that consist of 3D simulations to learn about using safety procedures used to service wind turbines and use equipment. It’s been used by wind power producer Siemens Gamesa to train for specific tasks to perform inside wind turbines in the correct order. To move on in the game, the player must show certain skills have been learned. Text and visuals are offered in the beginning of the game, but as proficiency increases, the help gets reduced. Tasks must be completed again without help at the final level.

All of this is not to say that traditional learning should be considered less important. Gamification is another tool in the energy knowledge toolbox that helps add to the wealth of knowledge to be gained in the energy industry. And for those who find traditional methods of learning boring, gamification might be a great way to advance in the industry, not to mention save money in the process through energy consumption.