The European Union’s strategy to transition to sustainable and renewable energy systems emphasizes the importance of biogas in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, Greece remains behind other EU countries in biogas production. This study aims to identify systemic barriers hindering the growth of the Greek Biogas Innovation System (GBIS), focusing on the region of Thessaly. The primary research question targets the identification of these barriers, supplemented by sub-questions addressing the characteristics of GBIS, systemic failures, and community inclusion challenges. The study employs a qualitative case study approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with stakeholders such as biogas producers, biomass suppliers, research organizations, energy communities, funding organizations, natural gas experts, biogas entrepreneurs, and community members. The theoretical foundation is based on the Technological Innovation System (TIS) approach and the System Failure framework, which helps identify broad systemic issues affecting innovation systems. Stakeholder participation and participatory design are integral to the study, ensuring comprehensive consideration of perspectives from all parties involved. Findings characterize GBIS as a diverse network of stakeholders, including biogas companies, biomass suppliers, municipal and governmental bodies, financial and research organizations, and biogas associations, operating at international, national, and regional levels. Relationships among stakeholders vary from positive to negative, weak, competitive, and advocatory. Key functions such as entrepreneurial activities, knowledge development and diffusion, market formation, and resource mobilization are present but not fully optimized. Identified systemic failures include infrastructural failures, such as an outdated electricity grid, and institutional failures, such as complex bureaucratic processes, regulatory gaps, and inefficient waste management regulations. Interaction failures are seen in strong but closed networks that hinder collaboration and information exchange, while capability failures are due to a lack of organizational abilities to overcome obstacles like unstable feedstock supply. Market failures include the volatile price of biomass and the absence of major market players. Additionally, media portrayal, local opposition due to environmental concerns and odor issues, and misinformation about biogas technology create community-related barriers. Climatic risks due to natural disasters, such as recent flooding in Thessaly, further compound these systemic issues. Recommendations to address these barriers include public investments in upgrading the electricity grid and centralizing biomass gathering through third-party collaborations. Strengthening stakeholder cooperation, facilitated by the Hellenic Biogas Association and academia, is crucial for joint R&D projects. Developing educational tools and training programs by universities and biogas companies can build a skilled workforce. Institutional reforms are necessary to streamline bureaucratic processes, close regulatory gaps, and provide incentives for compliance with environmental regulations. Establishing a central organizational body for GBIS can streamline administrative procedures and improve resource management. For community engagement, biogas companies should address local needs before initiating projects to ensure acceptance. Strengthening regional energy communities can empower locals to produce their own energy and educate them on biogas benefits. Promoting public awareness through media and municipalities and involving communities in biogas projects can enhance public perception and acceptance. In conclusion, this study identifies and proposes solutions to systemic barriers in GBIS, aiming to boost biogas production and enhance community involvement and acceptance. The TIS and System Failure approach, combined with stakeholder participation, offers a comprehensive method to analyze and address these barriers across the entire value chain.

This thesis explores the development of energy transition personas to inform the development process of energy transition projects in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The research addresses the challenges of end user acceptance and participation in the transition away from natural gas consumption. By employing grounded theory, an inductive and flexible data collection and analysis methodology, 26 participants (both expert stakeholders and residents of Eindhoven) were interviewed. This methodology yielded three framings that form the context of the energy transition in Eindhoven. 1. The willingness and ability to take action in forming one's energy future is dependent on the time span that is perceived by this individual. 2. Most participants are not concerned with sustainable energy, in that they have minimal knowledge and interest in their energy sources, distribution systems, storage, etc. Most people are more interested in end-of-pipe solutions within their homes that lead to energy efficiency, lowering the energy bill, and changes in consumption behavior. 3. The energy transition is a social transition. The barriers and enablers for the progression of energy developments are mainly financial, communicational, and community-oriented. These theories are used to create the Energy Transition Persona framework, which is a methodology to represent a community's needs, behaviors, mindsets, and resources. This framework is applied in the empirical context of Eindhoven, which yielded six personas divided into age, housing status, and general attitude, ranging from young adults to elderly people and from homeowners to renters. All in all, this research provides insights into how to represent users' values, lifestyles, and preferences. The study gives direction to various academic and empirical research agendas, as well as guidelines on how to bring the Energy Transition Persona framework into practice to enhance customer journeys, participation strategies, and a better alignment between technologies and their users.