<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The successful diffusion of sustainable technologies is termed “upscaling” in the transition studies literature. This paper maintains that upscaling is an ambiguous notion that suggests that technology diffusion processes follow a linear trend from small-scale pilot plants to industrial-scale facilities. On the ground, however, socio-technical configurations are implemented at a variety of scales, simultaneously. These issues are demonstrated in this paper by analysing the historical development of the Austrian biomass district heating niche. Drawing on secondary statistical data and primary qualitative semi-structured interviews, it is possible to identify four generic socio-technical configurations or dominant designs that, in conjunction, shape the diffusion dynamics of this technology in Austria</p></abstract>

The successful diffusion of sustainable technologies is termed “upscaling” in the transition studies literature. This paper maintains that upscaling is an ambiguous notion that suggests that technology diffusion processes follow a linear trend from small-scale pilot plants to industrial-scale facilities. On the ground, however, socio-technical configurations are implemented at a variety of scales, simultaneously. These issues are demonstrated in this paper by analysing the historical development of the Austrian biomass district heating niche. Drawing on secondary statistical data and primary qualitative semi-structured interviews, it is possible to identify four generic socio-technical configurations or dominant designs that, in conjunction, shape the diffusion dynamics of this technology in Austria

The (UP)Scaling of Renewable Energy Technologies: Experiences from The Austrian Biomass District Heating Niche

Economic Geography Research Group, Department of Geography and Geology, University of Salzburg Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

Moravian Geographical Reports

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

(Up)scaling technologií obnovitelné energie: zkušenosti z rozvoje dálkového vytápění biomasou v Rakousku

The successful diffusion of sustainable technologies is termed “upscaling” in the transition studies literature. This paper maintains that upscaling is an...

The (UP)Scaling of Renewable Energy Technologies: Experiences from The Austrian Biomass District Heating Niche

Published Online: Jul 29, 2014

Page range: 44 - 54

Received: Oct 30, 2013

Accepted: Apr 29, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgr-2014-0011

Keywords
energy transitions, scale, biomass, district heating, Austria

© 2014 Markus Seiwald

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The (UP)Scaling of Renewable Energy Technologies: Experiences from The Austrian Biomass District Heating Niche

Published Online: Jul 29, 2014

Page range: 44 - 54

Received: Oct 30, 2013

Accepted: Apr 29, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgr-2014-0011

Keywordsenergy transitions, scale, biomass, district heating, Austria

© 2014 Markus Seiwald

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
energy transitions, scale, biomass, district heating, Austria