Navigating the Heat Transition

Abstract

The Dutch government's 2050 initiative to transition all buildings from natural gas to sustainable heat systems underscores the critical role of stakeholder alignment in energy transition projects. Despite its importance, existing literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms required for effective stakeholder collaboration in heat grid projects. This study addresses this gap through an explorative qualitative analysis, employing interviews and a representative case study to examine: How can collective decision-making be orchestrated to overcome the barriers of low carbon heating grid projects in mixed-use neighbourhoods? The findings identify the primary barriers to project success as political-legislative uncertainty, lack of transparency & trust, and lack of participation & cooperation, and propose a collective decision-making framework for enhancing stakeholder decision-making processes outlining which stakeholders should be involved during barrier/stakeholder intensive moments. The research contributes to the literature on collaborative innovation for heating grids by outlining strategies for overcoming obstacles in heat grid project implementation, highlighting the significance of coordinated action among diverse stakeholders for achieving energy transition goals.