Actors and agency in district heating: Engaging with middle actor perspectives through future workshops

This paper focuses on professionals within the district heating sector as drivers of change towards green transition, thereby taking what has been termed a middle out approach. Instead of viewing professionals such as craftsmen or energy consultants as simply implementing political decisions, the middle out approach sees these professionals as having a more substantial influence on energy transition processes. Consequently, more research is needed to uncover the professionals’ perspectives and knowledge as a vital resource in a future green transition. This paper presents future workshops as a method to invite relevant professionals to discuss potentials and challenges of a future district heating system, in particular with regard to the role of buildings. The findings show which forms of agency the professionals ascribe to the different actors in a future intermittent system, how they understand key challenges and problems, and how they envision future communication and cooperation between
central actors.