Sippens Groenewegen, Ynske Wendelyn (2021) How to make citizens join district heating networks?: A qualitative study on citizens’ barriers to join district heating networks and the potential strategies to overcome these barriers. Master thesis.
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Abstract
The Netherlands lags behind other European countries with District Heating Networks (DHNs) because making citizens willing and able to join DHNs is difficult. Limited knowledge exists on citizens’ barriers to join DHNs and potential strategies to overcome these barriers. To upscale Dutch DHNs, this study researches citizens’ barriers to join DHNs and how these barriers potentially are overcome. Barriers and potential strategies were identified using literature- and desk research. Qualitative research aimed to further substantiate or nuance barriers and strategies identified. Theretofore, four Dutch DHN projects are studied based on nine semi-structured interviews and five additional expert interviews. The literature study shows DHNs, like the energy transition, might affect citizens’ comfort (indoors) and financial situation (risk of higher costs than potential benefits). Unlike the energy transition, DHNs might also affect citizens’ trust. DHNs’ barriers are divided into financial, trust and comfort barriers. The findings of this study largely confirm the barriers and strategies identified in the literature study. Homeowners only have financial barriers because they have to pay these costs, while housing corporations pay these costs for tenants. Trust and comfort are barriers for tenants and homeowners. This study suggests DHN projects potentially should use the main strategies identified to make citizens willing and able to join DHNs. To make DHN projects able to do this, the national government might need to support DHN projects financially and legally. DHN projects might also focus more on emotional aspects (green neighbourhoods) rather than rational aspects (finance) to increase DHNs’ social acceptance.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Environmental & Infrastructure Planning |
| Supervisor: | Zuidema, C. |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Sep 2021 08:53 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Sep 2021 08:53 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3678 |
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