Hydrogen in the Urban Setting - Understanding the role of hydrogen in the energy transition of Berlin through the lens of the Multi-Level-Perspective

Abstract

Climate action can be seen in economic, political, cultural and social processes around the globe. Rarely are these processes more visible than in the context of sustainable urban transition. With a growing population, especially in urban areas, the question of how to sustain this growth in terms of energy production and resource use is becoming more apparent. It is clear that a sustainable transition is becoming a task for multiple actors involved in urban development. The Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) provides a transition-theoretical framework in which socio-technical processes are explored at three levels - the landscape, the regime, and the niche. The dynamics within and across these levels are described with drivers and barriers to understand a transition over time. In the context of a city-state like Berlin, the MLP faces limitations that are addressed through a multi-actor approach while also acknowledging the involvement of a multi-level governance structure through local and national policy-making processes. This thesis unpacks the role of hydrogen in Berlin's energy transition by operationalizing the MLP framework and analyzing the key conditions under which hydrogen has evolved in the past. Through expert interviews complemented by document analysis I describe the conditions necessary for its diffusion into a broader implementation of the energy system. Finally, the feasibility of the theoretical framework used, to understand past and future transition processes, is discussed. My empirical analysis shows that a successful hydrogen breakthrough in Berlin requires political legislation (landscape changes) to drive additional technical advances in production, storage, and infrastructure (regime adjustments). These findings confirm the dynamic nature of the MLP framework and demonstrate its practicality when applied in an urban context, allowing exploration of future opportunities for niche technologies.

Climate action can be seen in economic, political, cultural and social processes around the globe. Rarely are these processes more visible than in the context of sustainable urban transition. With a growing population, especially in urban areas, the question of how to sustain this growth in terms of energy production and resource use is becoming more apparent. It is clear that a sustainable transition is becoming a task for multiple actors involved in urban development. The Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) provides a transition-theoretical framework in which socio-technical processes are explored at three levels - the landscape, the regime, and the niche. The dynamics within and across these levels are described with drivers and barriers to understand a transition over time. In the context of a city-state like Berlin, the MLP faces limitations that are addressed through a multi-actor approach while also acknowledging the involvement of a multi-level governance structure through local and national policy-making processes. This thesis unpacks the role of hydrogen in Berlin's energy transition by operationalizing the MLP framework and analyzing the key conditions under which hydrogen has evolved in the past. Through expert interviews complemented by document analysis I describe the conditions necessary for its diffusion into a broader implementation of the energy system. Finally, the feasibility of the theoretical framework used, to understand past and future transition processes, is discussed. My empirical analysis shows that a successful hydrogen breakthrough in Berlin requires political legislation (landscape changes) to drive additional technical advances in production, storage, and infrastructure (regime adjustments). These findings confirm the dynamic nature of the MLP framework and demonstrate its practicality when applied in an urban context, allowing exploration of future opportunities for niche technologies.