Date: 28 September
Time: 09.45 - 11.30 and 14.30 - 16.00

Part I: 09.45 - 11.30

• Löhr, Meike: Multi-system interactions in hydrogen-based sector coupling projects: System entanglers as key actors 
• Lenninger, Paula: Integration of carbon budgets into regional climate policy: finding agency to accelerate mitigation 
• Ertelt, Sophie-Marie: Home Field Advantage: Examining Incumbency Reorientation Dynamics in Low-Carbon Transitions 
• Damman, Sigrid: Circular economy based on plastics from aquaculture. Socio-technological dynamics and legitimation of emerging value chains

Part II: 14.30 - 16.00

• Olbrich, Sarah: Governance of energy sector integration in Germany - Challenges and Strategies 
• Kanger, Laur: Integrated framework of intervention points and transformative outcomes for steering single- and multi-system transitions 
• Truffer, Bernhard: Lateral drifts instead of the S-curve: a new analytical perspective for transitions in complex socio-technical systems 
• Steen, Markus: Developing CCS infrastructure for industry decarbonisation: the role of the state, territory and sectoral context 

As sustainability transitions progress, multi-sector interactions become more accentuated. Transitions in one sector may influence, or depend on, wider transformations across different sectors. This is visible, for instance, in the need for upscaling and adaptation of energy system production and distribution configurations to cater to new and increasing demand for alternative fuels and energy carriers in energy use sectors (e.g. transport, industry, housing etc). It also relates to the need for novel value chains to meet growing demand on the input side (e.g., raw materials, key components and services) of technology value chains, as well as for solutions to handle end-of-life or end-of-pipe negative externalities (e.g., CCS for CO2 emissions). Finally, enabling a circular economy similarly requires substantial transformation both within and across sectors.   

While there is increasing attention to such multi-sectoral interactions in the sustainability transitions and related research communities, much work remains, both theoretically and empirically. New analytical inroads are needed to better understand the mechanisms and processes by which sectors and socio-technical systems become interconnected in new ways. This also concerns how such interactions are influenced by particular socio-cultural, political, economic, technological, geographical and sectoral contexts, as well as how they are forged (or not) through the agency of different types of actors.   

In this session we welcome both theoretical and empirical contributions that address core aspects of this outstanding research challenge.  

Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:   

• Novel, cross-sectoral value chains for alternative (low- or zero-carbon) energy solutions, such as hydrogen/ammonia, biofuels, electricity 
• Cross-sectoral circular value chains 
• Actors and agency (e.g., intermediation) in multi-sectoral transitions and transformation
• Policy for multi-sectoral transitions and building of (novel) sustainable value chains 
• Sectoral adaptation and alignment (incl. differences/similarities across sectors) 
• Transition acceleration/niche upscaling and implications for multi-sectoral interactions  
• Complementarities and competition within and between technological value chains" 

Organizers

Markus Steen, SINTEF 
Tuukka Mäkitie, SINTEF 
Sigrid Damman, SINTEF 
Jens Hanson, SINTEF 
Teis Hansen, SINTEF and University of Copenhagen 

Contact: Markus Steen