On accelerating the development of configurational innovation systems—the case of non-urban district heating in Germany
Wesche, J. P.; Negro, S. O.; Dütschke, E.; Hekkert, M. P.
(2021) Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning and Policy, volume 16, issue 11-12, pp. 1110 - 1126
(Article)
Abstract
The decarbonizing the heat sector is a major challenge in the energy transition in Germany and elsewhere. District heating systems could play an important role in this context. However, the diffusion of the technology in Germany has been very slow. The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the technological innovation
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system (TIS) to enhance understandings of the impediments to the diffusion of non-urban district heating systems. Due to its strong local context dependence, district heating can be understood as a configurational technology, and the TIS in which it is embedded as a configurational TIS. The paper contributes to the literature by developing policy suggestions that could lead to an acceleration of the diffusion of locally context-dependent technologies. The author recommends that policymaking in configurational TIS should aim at designing smart innovation system structures that can manage a high level of context specificity and facilitate vertical and horizontal knowledge exchange.
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Keywords: configurational innovation systems, district heating, Germany, heating transition, Technological innovation systems, Taverne, General Chemical Engineering, Fuel Technology, Energy Engineering and Power Technology
ISSN: 1556-7249
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd.
Note: Funding Information: Even though all projects were supported by local politicians, the level of support differed. In projects B and C, the mayors were part of the core development team from the outset. They co-organized the first gatherings and helped to secure funding (ID #11, ID #15). The mayor in project D was not part of the core team, but like his counterparts in project B and C he actively supported the district heating project and convinced other members of the local council to back and endorse it (ID #18, ID #20). By contrast, in project A the mayor took a positive but rather passive stance (ID #4). He financed a feasibility study early on but took the position that local municipalities should focus on the provision of core services defined by law, while any other activities should be initiated and driven by market forces (ID #1). Funding Information: Similar to the case of the lack of intermediaries (stage 1), the lack of planning experts directly hampers the knowledge exchange function, and indirectly the knowledge development and experimentation functions. The overly complex structure of support schemes hampers the resource mobilization function. Furthermore, the financial support for competing fossil-fuel based technological systems hampers the market formation function. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
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