InfraPOD

In this episode we are looking at theories about technological innovation to better understand the currently ongoing transition of our energy system. We discuss relevant components of the new energy system, political drivers and barriers, and hypothesize about what our energy system might look like in the future. ReferencesAG Energiebilanzen e.V. (2025). Energy consumption in Germany in 2024. Available at: https://ag-energiebilanzen.de/wp-content/uploads/AGEB_Jahresbericht2024_20250815_en.pdfMeyer, T. (2024) Strom. Über Nostalgie, Zukunft und warum der Markt längst entschieden hat. ISBN: 9 783 769 351224Innovation CurvesRogers, E.M. (2003) Diffusion of Innovations, 5th Edition. Free Press, New York.Howaldt, J., Kopp, R., Schwarz, M. (2025). Diffusion of Innovation. In: Schulz-Schaeffer, I., Windeler, A., Blättel-Mink, B. (eds) Handbook of Innovation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25143-6_33-1Foster, R.N. (1986) Innovation. Die technologische Offensive. 1st edition. Gabler Verlag Wiesbaden.Multi-Level PerspectiveGeels, Frank. (2024). The Multi-Level Perspective on Sustainability Transitions: Background, overview, and current research topics. 10.33774/coe-2024-c15gb. Learning curves (incl. Graphic)Roser, M. (2023) Learning curves: What does it mean for a technology to follow Wright's Law? Published online at OurWorldinData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20251125-173858/learning-curve.html'Current state of the energy transitionBrucksch, J., Figgener, J., Hecht, C., Sauer, D.W. (2026) Germany adds 6.57 GWh of battery storage capacity in 2025, total capacity hits 24 GWh. https://www.ess-news.com/2026/01/09/germany-adds-6-57-gwh-of-battery-storage-capacity-in-2025-total-capacity-hits-24-gwh/Deshaies, M. (2026). The German Energiewende: A Green Deal Template or Planned Failure?. In: Henrekson, M., Sandström, C., Stenkula, M. (eds) A Green Entrepreneurial State?. International Studies in Entrepreneurship, vol 49. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-15512-2_7IIGCC (2025). Policy Briefing: EU CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and vans. https://www.iigcc.org/insights/policy-briefing-eu-co2-emission-performance-standards-for-new-passenger-cars-and-vans?utm_source=chatgpt.comSchill, W.-P., Aichner, N. & Roth, A. (2026) Favorable conditions allow accelearting the renewable energy transition. DIW Weekly Report 3|2026. https://www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/diw_01.c.994726.de/dwr-26-03.pdf

In this episode we are retracing the historic development of the energy systems since earliest civilizations. Our use of energy has always been interrelated with human development, innovation, and progress. By learning about how the energy system has developed alongside human societies, we want to give you some context for the upcoming transition towards decarbonized energy systems. Main referenceRutter, P. & Keirstead, J. (2012). A brief history and the possible future of urban energy systems. Energy Policy. Volume 50. Pages 72-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.03.072Additional referencesSyvitski et al. (2020). Extraordinary human energy consumption and resultant geological impacts beginning around 1950 CE initiated the proposed Anthropocene Epoch. Communications Earth & Environment. Volume 1, Article number: 32. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00029-yFizaine, F. & Court, V. (2016). Energy expenditure, economic growth, and the minimum EROI of society. Energy Policy. Volume 95. Pages 172–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.04.039

What is “infrastructure”? Is it limited to roads, bridges, and energy systems or does it extend to ecosystems, care work, and social institutions? In this opening episode we interrogate the concept of infrastructure from different perspectives. Moving beyond conventional definitions, we explore infrastructure as a system that is not only physical but also relational, institutional, and deeply embedded in human life. Drawing on insights from systems theory, anthropology, and political economy, we discussion the expanding scope of infrastructure to include green (natural) systems and social reproduction processes.ReferencesLarkin, B. (2013). The politics and poetics of infrastructure. Annual Review of Anthropology, 42, 327–343. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-anthro-092412-155522Kanoi, L., Koh, V., Lim, A., Yamada, S., & Dove, M. R. (2022). What is infrastructure? What does it do? Anthropological perspectives on the workings of infrastructure(s). Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability, 2(1), 012002. https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ac4429Silva, J. M. C. da, & Wheeler, E. (2017). Ecosystems as infrastructure. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, 15(1), 32–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2016.11.005O'Sullivan, K.C., Olin, C.V., Pierse, N., Howden-Chapman, P. (2023). Housing: the key infrastructure to achieving health & wellbeing in urban environments. Oxford Open Infrastructure and Helath, Volume 1, 2023, ouad001, https://doi.org/10.1093/ooih/ouad001ClaimsUnpaid care work in the UK is valued at 1 trillion GBP: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/03/british-people-do-more-than-1-trillion-of-housework-each-year-unpaid

In this episode we give a brief overview of what we will cover in the podcast. If you have questions or feedback, please direct them to: [email protected]