In autumn 2019, the Executive Board of the Western Section of the KTG invited members to an excursion to the Kraftwerks-Simulator-Gesellschaft (KSG) / Gesellschaft für Simulatortrianing (GfS) in Essen Kupferdreh on 19 September 2019. The invitation from Mr Schröder and Dr Ohnemus was accepted by 12 members, who were able to find out more about KSG's capabilities and challenges.

KSG is based in Essen Kupferdreh on the Deilbachtal energy campus, where it co-operates with the Power Plant School (KWS) and the Association of Large Power Plant Operators (VGB Powertech).

For 40 years now, the KSG|GfS simulator centre in Essen has been providing simulator training for the licensed personnel of all German and one Dutch nuclear power plant as a central service provider for nuclear power plant operators. Originally started with two simulators in 1977, the KSG|GfS simulator centre now operates 7 power plant-specific simulators for 9 nuclear power plants. KSG trains the operating personnel responsible for nuclear power plants and thus makes an important contribution to safe operation. Simulator training is an essential part of acquiring and permanently maintaining the officially prescribed expertise of the licence personnel. The training participants learn to understand and operate their nuclear power plant under all conceivable operating conditions. This makes the KSG|GfS simulator centre the largest facility of its kind in the world. The simulators used for the simulator training exactly reproduce the respective nuclear power plant in its appearance and its technical, physical and temporal behaviour. The operating personnel find the same working conditions and requirements here as those that occur or could occur in reality when operating and monitoring the plant. The behaviour of the people in the team is trained as being of equal importance to operating and understanding the technology.

This was followed by a lively discussion about the development of safety philosophies outside of nuclear energy, which has its origins in the high standards of German nuclear power plants. But also the challenges of orientating oneself on the market in the long term and being able to survive.