Transforming a university campus into a sustainable energy district: Multi-criteria mapping of implementation options

Graz University of Technology’s largest campus shall be turned into a low-carbon energy district. We explore ways of transformation by using a deliberative multi-criteria approach, in order to “open up” stakeholder perspectives. The results shed light on discrepancies among the participants: While they share doubt about carbon capture, utilization and storage, the experts differ widely in their assessments of other options. We conclude by outlining a strategy harmonizing divergent assumptions and expectations.Low-carbon energy districts are considered to play important roles for achieving the ambitious climate targets set by the Paris Agreement. While such districts are expected to integrate all dimensions of sustainability, assessing their sustainability performance remains challenging. Against this background, we take multi-criteria mapping (MCM), a deliberative and stakeholder-driven multi-criteria decision-making approach, to evaluate Graz University of Technology’s current efforts to turn its largest campus into a low-carbon energy district. Based on scoping interviews, a focus group, and eleven mapping sessions with key stakeholders, nine core options were identified and assessed. By analyzing quantitative assessments and the specific criteria and argumentation patterns that underlie these assessments, our study “opens up” different perspectives on potential implementation options and highlights the complex and contradictory nature of sustainable (energy) transformations at the district level. The study concludes with the suggestion of using future workshops to align diverging perspectives and expectations.