Julius Paul Wesche

About

Dr. Julius Wesche is an technological innovation systems and sustainability transitions researcher.

His main affiliation is the energy group at Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture (KULT). He is also affiliated with the NTNU Energy Transition Initiative.

He earned a PhD from Utrecht University (NL) in 2021. The title of the thesis was: "Configurational Innovation Systems - Transition Dynamics and Actor Strategies in the German Heat Sector". In his research he focuses on actors and actor strategies in the Norwegian, German, and European energy transition.

Julius is a engaging speaker on innovation strategy and science communication topics.

He studied economics, sustainable development and energy policy in Hamburg, Kassel (both Germany) and Madison (USA). Between 2014 and 2021, he was an associate researcher in the Competence Center Energy Policy and Energy Markets at Fraunhofer ISI (Karlsruhe, Germany).

In 2021 he founded the Science Communication Accelerator to create a knowledge hub for digital science communication. He also consults universities and other knowledge organizations on how to use Social Media for communicating science and other complex topics - by developing their digital science communication, branding and outreach strategies.

Check out his webpage to learn more.

Podcasts host

NTNU Energy Transition Podcast (english)
Science Communication Accelerator Podcast (english)
enPower Energiewende Podcast (german)

Book projects

Introduction to Sustainability Transitions Research (co-editor), to be published by Cambridge University Press in summer 2025
Science Communication with Social Media (autor), to be published by Cambridge University Press in summer 2025

Peer Reviewed Arcticles

JP Wesche, & TM Skjølsvold (2024). Gigaton gear – policy insights for scaling up the global deployment of direct air carbon capture and sequestration technology (DACCS). In Climate Policy (pp. 1–15).
JP Wesche, SO Negro, HI Brugger, W Eichhammer, MP Hekkert (2023): The influence of visions on cooperation among interest organizations in fragmented socio‐technical systems, Environmental Policy & Governance.
JP Wesche, S Germán, L Gonçalves, I Jödicke, S López‐Asensio, A Prades, S Preuß, C Oltra Algado, E Dütschke (2022): CCUS or no CCUS? Societal support for policy frameworks and stakeholder perceptions in France, Spain, and Poland, Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology.
JP Wesche, SO Negro, E Dütschke, MP Hekkert (2021): On accelerating the development of configurational innovation systems—the case of non-urban district heating in Germany. Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning, and Policy.
JP Wesche, E Dütschke (2021): Organisations as electricity agents: Identifying success factors to become a prosumer. Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 315, 15 September 2021, 127888.
JP Wesche, SO Negro, E Dütschke, R Raven, MP Hekkert (2019): Configurational innovation systems–Explaining the slow German heat transition, Energy Research & Social Science 52, 99-113.
E Dütschke, C Hohmann, J Köhler, J Wesche (2019): Moving towards sustainability: Insights from district heating, water systems and communal housing projects in local communities, eceee summer study.
E Dütschke, JP Wesche (2018): The energy transformation as a disruptive development at community level, Energy Research & Social Science 37, 251-254.
E Dütschke, U Schneider, J Wesche (2017) Knowledge, use and effectiveness of social acceptance measures for wind projects, Zeitschrift für Energiewirtschaft 41 (4), 299-310
P Plötz, JP Wesche, E Dütschke (2017): Bayesian Model Averaging to predict Interest in Electric vehicles in Germany, Heading Towards Sustainable Energy Systems: Evolution or Revolution?, 15th IAEE European Conference, Sept 3-6, 2017
E Dütschke, AG Paetz, J Wesche (2013): Integration Erneuerbarer Energien durch Elektromobilität–inwieweit sind Konsumenten bereit, einen Beitrag zu leisten?, uwf UmweltWirtschaftsForum 21 (3-4), 233-242.

Research

Julius Wesche is a researcher with over a decade of experience in advancing low-carbon technologies and supporting the energy transition. With roles at Fraunhofer and NTNU, he has focused on analyzing policy systems to promote sustainable technologies like Direct Air Capture, CCS, solar energy, and offshore wind. His research explores how visions, stakeholder perceptions, and social acceptance influence cooperation and policy outcomes, with studies published on topics ranging from community-level energy transformations to factors driving electric vehicle adoption.

Alongside his research, Julius co-hosts the enPower Podcast and hosts the NTNU Energy Transition Podcast, reaching over 6,000 bi-weekly listeners. Through these platforms, he connects with industry experts to discuss energy transition challenges and strategies, aiming to make complex topics more accessible and foster awareness around sustainability. Julius's combined research and communication efforts contribute to a more informed and engaged community in support of a low-carbon future.

Currently Julius co-supervises two PhD students:

Kine Høve Johnsen "Public policy co-production, visions & strategies – Understanding the New Hydrogen Hype in Norway and the EU"
Martina Fantini on "Sustainable Aviation Futures in Norway: Visions and Trajectories"

Please reach out if you want to collaborate on:

Innovations Systems
Socio-technical Acceptance
Organizational Valuechain Analysis
Socio-technical Imageries
Visions and Pathway workshops

Empirical topics I am interested in:

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
Direct Air Carbon Capture (DACCS)
Bio Enery Carbon Capture (BECCS)
Solar PV
Onshore and Offshore Wind

Publications

Book projects

Introduction to Sustainability Transitions Research (co-editor), to be published by Cambridge University Press in summer 2025
Science Communication with Social Media (autor), to be published by Cambridge University Press in summer 2025

2025

Wesche, Julius Paul; Skjølsvold, Tomas Moe. (2025) Legitimacy transfer: A typology for multi-system interactions in sustainability transitions. Energy Research & Social Science
Academic article
Fantini, Martina; Wesche, Julius Paul; Skjølsvold, Tomas Moe. (2025) Synchronizers, amplifiers, integrators – three strategic roles of co-creating low-carbon aviation value chains. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
Academic article
Wesche, Julius Paul; Dütschke, Elisabeth; Negro, Simona O.; Hekkert, Marko P.. (2025) Corrigendum: Coalitions, coordination, and contestation: a systematic review of the advocacy coalition framework and its implications for sustainability transitions research (Frontiers in Political Science, (2025), 6, (1497731), 10.3389/fpos.2024.1497731). Frontiers in Political Science
Errata

2024

Wesche, Julius Paul; Skjølsvold, Tomas Moe. (2024) Gigaton gear – policy insights for scaling up the global deployment of direct air carbon capture and sequestration technology (DACCS). Climate Policy
Academic article
Wesche, Julius Paul; Dütschke, Elisabeth; Negro, Simona O.; Hekkert, Marko P.. (2024) Coalitions, coordination, and contestation: a systematic review of the advocacy coalition framework and its implications for sustainability transitions research. Frontiers in Political Science
Academic article

2023

Wesche, Julius Paul; Negro, S.O.; Brugger, H.I.; Eichhammer, W.; Hekkert, M.P.. (2023) The influence of visions on cooperation among interest organizations in fragmented socio-technical systems. Environmental Policy and Governance
Academic article

2017

Wesche, Julius; Dütschke, Elisabeth; Friedrichsen, N. (2017) Entstehung innovativer Wärmenetze – Eine Analyse von sechs Fallbeispielen auf Basis der Multi-Level-Perspektive. Fraunhofer ISI
Report
Dallinger, D; Kohrs, R; Mierau, M; Marwitz, s; Wesche, Julius. (2017) Plug-In Electric Vehicles’ Automated Charging Control: iZEUS Project. Springer
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Wesche, Julius; Dütschke, Elisabeth; Schneider, Uta. (2017) Knowledge, Use and Effectiveness of Social Acceptance Measures for Wind Projects. Zeitschrift für Energiewirtschaft
Academic article
Plötz, Patrick; Wesche, Julius; Dütschke, Elisabeth. (2017) Bayesian Model Averaging to predict Interest in Electric vehicles in Germany. IAEE International Conference
Academic article

2016

Wesche, Julius; Plötz, Patrick; Dütschke, Elisabeth. (2016) How to trigger mass market adoption of electric vehicles? Factors predicting interest in electric vehicles in Germany. Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI
Report

Journal publications

Wesche, Julius Paul; Skjølsvold, Tomas Moe. (2025) Legitimacy transfer: A typology for multi-system interactions in sustainability transitions. Energy Research & Social Science
Academic article
Fantini, Martina; Wesche, Julius Paul; Skjølsvold, Tomas Moe. (2025) Synchronizers, amplifiers, integrators – three strategic roles of co-creating low-carbon aviation value chains. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
Academic article
Wesche, Julius Paul; Dütschke, Elisabeth; Negro, Simona O.; Hekkert, Marko P.. (2025) Corrigendum: Coalitions, coordination, and contestation: a systematic review of the advocacy coalition framework and its implications for sustainability transitions research (Frontiers in Political Science, (2025), 6, (1497731), 10.3389/fpos.2024.1497731). Frontiers in Political Science
Errata
Wesche, Julius Paul; Skjølsvold, Tomas Moe. (2024) Gigaton gear – policy insights for scaling up the global deployment of direct air carbon capture and sequestration technology (DACCS). Climate Policy
Academic article
Wesche, Julius Paul; Dütschke, Elisabeth; Negro, Simona O.; Hekkert, Marko P.. (2024) Coalitions, coordination, and contestation: a systematic review of the advocacy coalition framework and its implications for sustainability transitions research. Frontiers in Political Science
Academic article
Wesche, Julius Paul; Negro, S.O.; Brugger, H.I.; Eichhammer, W.; Hekkert, M.P.. (2023) The influence of visions on cooperation among interest organizations in fragmented socio-technical systems. Environmental Policy and Governance
Academic article
Wesche, Julius Paul; German, Silvia; Gonçalves, Lila; Jödicke, Ilon; López-Asensio, Sergi; Prades, Ana. (2022) CCUS or no CCUS? Societal support for policy frameworks and stakeholder perceptions in France, Spain, and Poland. Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology
Academic article
Wesche, Julius Paul; Negro, Simona O.; Dütschke, Elisabeth; Hekkert, Marko. (2021) On accelerating the development of configurational innovation systems—the case of non-urban district heating in Germany. Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning and Policy
Academic article
Wesche, Julius; Dütschke, Elisabeth. (2021) Organisations as electricity agents: identifying success factors to become a prosumer . Journal of Cleaner Production
Academic article
Wesche, Julius; Negro, Simona O.; Dütschke, Elisabeth; Raven, Rob; Hekkert, Marko P.. (2019) Configurational innovation systems–Explaining the slow German heat transition. Energy Research & Social Science
Academic article
Dütschke, Elisabeth; Hohmann, Caludia; Köhler, Jonathan; Wesche, Julius. (2019) Moving towards sustainability: insights from district heating, water systems and communal housing projects in local communities. Eceee ... summer study proceedings
Academic article
Wesche, Julius. (2018) The energy transformation as a disruptive development at community level. Energy Research & Social Science
Academic article
Wesche, Julius; Dütschke, Elisabeth; Schneider, Uta. (2017) Knowledge, Use and Effectiveness of Social Acceptance Measures for Wind Projects. Zeitschrift für Energiewirtschaft
Academic article
Plötz, Patrick; Wesche, Julius; Dütschke, Elisabeth. (2017) Bayesian Model Averaging to predict Interest in Electric vehicles in Germany. IAEE International Conference
Academic article

Part of book/report

Dütschke, Elisabeth; Köhler, Jonathan; Laws, Norman; Hacke, Ulrike; Niederste-Hollenberg, Jutta; Wesche, Julius. (2019) Kommunen als Motoren einer Nachhaltigkeitstransformation – Erfahrungen aus den Feldern Energie, Wasser und Wohnen. Springer
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Dallinger, D; Kohrs, R; Mierau, M; Marwitz, s; Wesche, Julius. (2017) Plug-In Electric Vehicles’ Automated Charging Control: iZEUS Project. Springer
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

Report

Wesche, Julius; Dütschke, Elisabeth; Friedrichsen, N. (2017) Entstehung innovativer Wärmenetze – Eine Analyse von sechs Fallbeispielen auf Basis der Multi-Level-Perspektive. Fraunhofer ISI
Report
Wesche, Julius; Plötz, Patrick; Dütschke, Elisabeth. (2016) How to trigger mass market adoption of electric vehicles? Factors predicting interest in electric vehicles in Germany. Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI
Report

Information material

Sørensen, Astrid; Edmonds, Jae; Aakenes, Ståle; Freeman, Steve; Becour, Hans Petter Kildal; Koljonen, Tiina. (2021) Negative emissions and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR). NETI policy brief 02/2021.
Briefs

Teaching

KULT8123 - Environmental Sustainability and Societal Transformation

Supervision

Currently Julius co-supervises two PhD students:

Kine Høve Johnsen "Public policy co-production, visions & strategies – Understanding the New Hydrogen Hype in Norway and the EU"
Martina Fantini on "Sustainable Aviation Futures in Norway: Visions and Trajectories"

Outreach

NTNU Energy Transition Podcast

Julius runs the NTNU Energy Transition Podcast, engaging audiences in the energy transition in Norway and globally. He invites top executives and researchers to discuss energy transition topics, making complex issues more accessible.

2024

Programme participation

Wesche, Julius Paul; Nybø, Synne Hoggen. (2024) NTNU Energy Transition Podcast. #63 Unlocking the Potential of Floating Wind Farms (with Synne Nybø, SINTEF Ocean). Spotify Spotify [Radio] 2024-02-21
Interview

Steen, Markus; Wesche, Julius Paul. (2024) Scaling CCS - Non-technical challenges and solutions for carbon capture in Norway and beyond. NTNU Energy Transition Podcast NTNU Energy Transition Podcast [Internet] 2024-05-16
Academic lecture

Wesche, Julius Paul. (2024) Legitimacy Capture Incumbent’s strategic appropriation of legitimacy across system boundaries. Sustainability Transitions Research Network International Sustainability Transitions Conference , Oslo University. Campus Blindern 2024-06-19 - 2024-06-19

2023

Interview

Lomsdalen, Christian; Wesche, Julius Paul; Eide, Mari Lund. (2023) Forskning på øret: Podcast som formidlingskanal . Forskning til Folket Forskning til Folket [Radio] 2023-05-23
Popular scientific lecture

Wesche, Julius Paul. (2023) Young Energy Professionals Networking Event as part of Oslo Innovation Week. Oslo Innovation Week, NTNU Green Energy Shifters, UIF Who will deploy climate tech - Corporates or Startups? , Oslo NIO Showroom 2023-09-28 - 2023-09-28
Programme management

Normann, Ben David; Wesche, Julius Paul; Moe, Espen; Tomasgard, Asgeir; Skjølsvold, Tomas Moe; Sabatino, Marisa Di. (2023) Nyans — Grønn omstilling og kraftkrise. YouTube YouTube [Internet] 2023-10-01

Språkvelger

Julius Paul Wesche