Page - 138 - in Critical Issues in Science, Technology and Society Studies - Conference Proceedings of the 17th STS Conference Graz 2018

Interviews with actors involved in field tests Semi-structured interviews with actors involved in field test installations should help answer the question of the socio-technical factors influencing the quality of installed cold systems which work as drivers or barriers to the increased dissemination of the innovation. This should also shed light on how these local experiments work as the drivers of change by contributing to alignment of expectations, network building, and learning. Interviewees included representatives of facility management, planners, energy suppliers, decision-makers, and researchers involved in seven field tests. The interview guide focused on their experiences during the planning, installation and launching process of the absorption refrigeration systems. Results Interview results reveal differentiated information, especially about learning processes taking place, but also regarding the development of expectations among participants of field tests and their contribution to network development. Learning processes and effects concern various aspects: Technology itself, user context and demand, (cooperation during) planning process, knowledge and know-how, economic efficiency and perspectives, and regulative framework conditions. In the following, I present selected main results concerning technology, user context, planning process, and economic aspects. Learning effects related to technology Interview results reveal that the innovation fulfills practitioners’ expectations regarding lower size, weight and space requirements. Despite current problems or negative experiences, actors believe in the future of absorption refrigeration technology and are ready to invest time and money. Nevertheless, results show that the technology is perceived as demanding. Practice actors had difficulty understanding the functionality of the plant which would have been necessary for some fundamental decisions which had to be taken at an early stage of planning process. Due to a lack of understanding, decisions had to be revised in some cases when the effects of decisions for other parameters became visible. Learning effects related to user context Often, new refrigeration systems must be introduced into existing building energy systems. This implies planning based on very little data about the existing technology system and cold demand, as, in many cases, “measuring was always a foreign concept”, as one interviewee said. The innovative technology often needs to be integrated into aged, patchwork-like systems, partly with components which are not compatible with the requirements of the new technology. Adaptations and/or exchange of components in the existing building energy system (with respective additional costs) and/or compromises are necessary. These context conditions usually limit possible energy efficiency. Additionally, a contrast between the “full automation” vision (of researchers) and current practices occurred. Today, many systems are serviced by staff-members who know the existing building energy system and keep it running despite lacking data and information, based on their practical experience and tacit knowledge. The question is not only if these actors are willing to 138