1
Replacing cen alised was e and 1
sani a ion in as uc u e wi h local 2
ea men and nu ien ecycling: 3
Expe opinions in he con ex o u ban 4
planning 5
B ie unning i le: Ci cula sys em p econdi ions 6
Maa i Sä kilah i1, Viljami Kinnunen1, Rii a Ke unen1, A i Jokinen2, Jukka Rin ala1 7
1Depa men o Chemis y and Bioenginee ing, Tampe e Uni e si y o Technology, PO Box 527, FI-8
33101, Tampe e, Finland, maa i .sa kilah[email p o ec ed] (co esponding au ho ) 9
2School o Managemen , FI-33014, Uni e si y o Tampe e, Tampe e, Finland 10
Abs ac 11
Solu ions o esou ce sca ci y should be sough om u ban was e managemen and sani a ion, 12
which a e cha ac e ised by cen al plan s and long ne wo ks. The socio- echnical ansi ion o mo e 13
sus ainable in as uc u e is expec ed o include pa ial decen alisa ion based on local condi ions. 14
This pape ocuses on d i e s, ba ie s and enable s in implemen ing a decen alised ci cula sys em 15
in a new esiden ial a ea (Tampe e, Finland). In he al e na i e sys em, biowas e and eces a e 16
ea ed in a local biogas plan , and nu ien and ene gy ou pu a e u ilised wi hin he a ea. This 17
esea ch aims o unde s and wha kind o u ban planning enables al e na i e in as uc u e, as well 18
as he cha ac e is ics o an inno a ion capable o making a b eak h ough. Se en een in as uc u e 19
planning expe s we e in e iewed, hen assembled o e-de elop ideas a ising om he in e iews. 20
Based on hese quali a i ely analysed da a, 12 ac o s which help he adop ion o he al e na i e 21
sys em we e o mula ed. The esul s indica e ha sus ainabili y ansi ion can be acili a ed h ough 22
impa ial u ban planning ha allows he ea ly pa icipa ion o ac o s and imp o ed communica ions. 23
Addi ionally, s udying he impac o al e na i e solu ions and ci y guidance acco ding o 24
en i onmen al policy aims may enhance ansi ion. Inno a ion success ac o s include sui able 25
loca ions, compe en pa ne s, ma u e echnology and isible local bene i s. 26
Keywo ds: al e na i e sani a ion; biogas; nu ien ecycling; u ban land-use planning; socio- echnical 27
ansi ion; Tampe e 28
29
This is an accep ed manusc ip .The o iginal a icle has been publsihed in Technological
Fo ecas ing and Social Change. 2017, 118, pp.195-204.
h ps://doi.o g/10.1016/j. ech o e.2017.02.020.
2
1 In oduc ion 30
Resou ce sca ci y is a opical issue whose solu ions should be sough no only om he ene gy 31
sec o , bu also om he was e managemen /sani a ion sec o . Cu en ly, u ban in as uc u es a e 32
cha ac e ised by cen alised ea men plan s and long anspo a ion dis ances, and hey ha e been 33
c i icised o high ene gy and esou ce usage as well as inadequa e esou ce ecycling. The EU has 34
been suppo ing a ci cula economy h ough he Ho izon 2020 Resea ch and Inno a ion p og amme 35
(Ho izon 2020 sec ions.). Consequen ly, he e a e new echnical solu ions a ailable, bu hei es ing 36
and implemen a ion a e s ill in he ini ial s age. The adap a ion o echnical inno a ions has been 37
esis ed by s able in as uc u e egimes, which ca y ou essen ial socie al unc ions and a e 38
he e o e cha ac e ised by lock-in and pa h-dependency p ocesses (Smi h & Ra en, 2012). In pas 39
decades, he cen alisa ion o in as uc u es has ine i ably p o ided heal h and en i onmen al 40
bene i s. Howe e , a e i al o decen alised u ban in as uc u es should be conside ed oday o 41
coun e ac new sus ainabili y challenges. 42
To unde s and he p esen in as uc u es and he mo i a ion o change hem, echnical solu ions 43
and esou ce lows need o be obse ed c i ically. A he beginning o he ood chain, cu en 44
ag icul u e depends on i iga ion (Valipou , 2015) and a i icial e ilise s p oduced in an ene gy-45
in ensi e p ocess (ni ogen N) (B en up & Pallié e, 2008) and mined om sca ce ese es 46
(phospho us P) (Co dell, D ange , & Whi e, 2009). Ag icul u al p oduc s, and consequen ly ood 47
p oduc s, con ain high amoun s o nu ien s ha he human body mainly exc e es in u ine 48
(Spångbe g, 2014). In addi ion, ga den and ki chen was e (he ea e e e ed o as biowas e) 49
con ibu es o u ban nu ien low (Sokka, An ikainen, & Kauppi, 2004). In a con en ional 50
was ewa e - ea men plan , ene gy and chemicals a e used o emo e nu ien s acco ding o e e 51
s ic e en i onmen al equi emen s. In was ewa e ea men , N is con e ed o a mosphe ic 52
ni ogen and P is o en p ecipi a ed in o an insoluble o m, limi ing i s euse. Finally, biowas e and 53
ea ed sewage sludge a e land illed, incine a ed, compos ed, anae obically diges ed (Man edi & 54
Pan , 2011) and/o ecycled in o ag icul u e. 55
Anae obic diges ion is an a ac i e ea men echnology because i gene a es enewable ene gy in 56
he o m o biogas, suppo s nu ien ecycling and po en ially c ea es local jobs. Fu he mo e, 57
anae obic diges ion is sui able o u ban a eas because he p ocess occu s in enclosed anks, and 58
emissions a e easie o manage han in o he ea men me hods (Edwa ds, O hman, & Bu n, 2015). 59
Howe e , ecycling end p oduc s om cen alised plan s o ag icul u e is ma ginal (Mee s, 2016), so 60
he nu ien loop is no closed. In addi ion o p ocess limi a ions, he isk o ecycling ha m ul 61
subs ances, lack o accep abili y (Aubain e al., 2002), unsuppo i e o unclea legal amewo ks 62
(Huka i, He mann, & Nä o p, 2016), and go e nance aspec s such as poo sou ce-sepa a ion o 63
ine icien plan ope a ion (Zabale a & Rodic-Wie sma, 2015) a e hinde ing he ecycling o was e-64
de i ed nu ien s. 65
Sou ce-sepa a ing sani a ion and decen alised ea men o domes ic was ewa e ha e been 66
sugges ed as an al e na i e wi h he po en ial o imp o e nu ien ecycling and ene gy e iciency in 67
he sani a ion sys em (Te ahau a, Hoang, He nández, Zeeman, & Buisman, 2013). Fu he mo e, 68
decen alised wa e sys ems ha e he po en ial o educe in as uc u e cos s and suppo 69
inno a ions ha can be expo ed o eme ging economies (Quezada, Wal on, & Sha ma, 2016), 70
whe eas dis ibu ed ene gy sys ems may inc ease enewable ene gy p oduc ion capaci y and ene gy 71
3
sel -su iciency (Ruggie o, Va ho, & Rikkonen, 2015); mo eo e , such sys ems may enhance 72
sus ainabili y in e ms o lexibili y, locali y and ne wo king (Alanne & Saa i, 2006). To p omo e local 73
esou ce cycles and enewable ene gy p oduc ion, he au ho s ha e designed a decen alised 74
ci cula sys em (Figu e 2, in sec ion 2.2) ha consis s o sou ce-sepa a ing low-wa e oile s, small-75
scale biogas plan s, and he local u ilisa ion o nu ien s and p oduced gas wi hin a esiden ial a ea 76
( he case ci y: Tampe e, Finland). 77
In addi ion o echnological ad ancemen s, planning in di e se o ms is equi ed o imp o e u ban 78
in as uc u es. The mos comp ehensi e is land-use planning, which coo dina es sec o al policies 79
and decisions wi h spa ial impac s. Planning sys ems a y be ween coun ies. In Finland, 80
municipali ies ha e a planning monopoly, as well as he powe o app o e and a i y mas e plans 81
and de ailed plans (Finnish Pa liamen , 1999). S akeholde pa icipa ion and sus ainable 82
de elopmen a e emphasised in planning legisla ion. As a complemen a y planning ins umen , ci ies 83
use uno icial land-use planning based on public–p i a e pa ne ships (Junnila, Nii anen, Majamaa, & 84
Ku onen, 2010). This inc eases hei s a egic capaci y and lexibili y o eac o new possibili ies. In 85
addi ion, land policy is an impo an esou ce o ci ies in hei planning. A he momen , mo e 86
ins umen s and coope a ion a e needed in Finland o in eg a ed planning be ween adminis a i e 87
sec o s and be ween municipali ies (Hi onen-Kan ola & Män ysalo, 2014). Rela ed o hese 88
challenges, i is wo h no ing ha land-use planning is de e mined no only by legal and 89
adminis a i e ules, bu also by in o mal ins i u ions. Poli ical, socio-economic and cul u al o ces 90
a ec he planning sys em. 91
In his pape , he objec i e is o de e mine he p econdi ions o implemen ing he decen alised 92
ci cula sys em. The au ho s explo ed he sys em’s easibili y in semi-s uc u ed in e iews wi h 17 93
wa e -, was e-, gas-, ene gy-, and u ban land-use planning expe s, and in a wo kshop wi h se en 94
expe s. In di ec ed con en analysis (Hsieh & Shannon, 2005), d i e s, ba ie s and enable s 95
(Quezada e al., 2016) o al e na i e sys em implemen a ion we e sough . The esul s we e 96
o ganised based on a mul i-le el pe spec i e (MLP) (Geels, 2010) ha iews socio- echnical 97
ansi ion as an in e ac ion be ween h ee le els: niches (no el y), egime (dominan ac o s, 98
ins i u ions and echnologies) and landscape (poli ical en i onmen ). The au ho s aim was o answe 99
he ollowing esea ch ques ions: 100
A) How can a decen alised ci cula sys em be suppo ed in he con ex o u ban planning? 101
B) Wha a e he cha ac e is ics o an al e na i e sys em capable o achie ing a b eak h ough? 102
P e ious esea ch has gene a ed knowledge on a ious aspec s o sus ainable u ban in as uc u e 103
(Fe e , Thomé, & Sca a da, 2016), bu a gap emains be ween in as uc u e planning schola ship 104
and he eali ies o public in as uc u e planning (Malekpou , B own, & de Haan, 2015). The 105
decen alised ci cula sys em conside ed in his pape and placed in he con ex o u ban land-use 106
planning con ibu es o ul illing his esea ch gap. Ano he con ibu ion o he pape is o in oduce 107
he inno a i e me hodology o using expe opinions o in es iga e he p econdi ions o an 108
al e na i e in as uc u e. 109
110
111
4
2 Ma e ial and me hods 112
2.1 Mul ile el pe spec i e on he esea ch se ing 113
The au ho s o ganised he p econdi ions o implemen ing he decen alised ci cula sys em in a 114
new esiden ial a ea acco ding o a mul ile el pe spec i e. In MLP, landscape e e s o an exogenous 115
en i onmen ha changes slowly and a ec s niche and egime dynamics (Ve bong & Geels, 2010). 116
This s udy is mo i a ed by global esou ce sca ci y and aims o enhance sus ainabili y, li eabili y (de 117
Haan e al., 2014) and he ci cula economy (Figu e 1), which ques ions he pe o mance o cu en 118
egimes and gene a es oppo uni ies o he s udied sys em. On he o he hand, he e a e also 119
opposi e landscape p ocesses, including s ong consump ion cul u e, which i wi h cu en egimes 120
and may hinde ansi io121
122
Figu e 1. A decen alised ci cula sys em (niche); dominan ac o s, ins i u ions and echnologies in 123
in as uc u e de elopmen ( egime); and ex e nal ac o s (landscape), such as li es yles and poli ical 124
ambi ions, which shape ci ies. Mul iple le els we e adop ed om Geels (2010). 125
Regimes a e he p e ailing means o ealising key socie al unc ions (Smi h, Voß, & G in, 2010); hey 126
consis o ma e ial and echnical elemen s, ne wo ks o ac o s, and ules ha guide ac i i ies 127
(Ve bong & Geels, 2010). In he con ex o his pape , egimes include municipal wa e , sani a ion 128
and was e in as uc u e. When an (al e na i e) in as uc u e is ealised in new esiden ial a eas, 129
he s onges ac o s come om municipal land-use planning, whe e he planning powe is, and om 130
cons uc ion companies, which in es in building houses (Figu e 1). Cha ac e is ically, in as uc u e 131
sec o s a e highly ins i u ionalised socio- echnical egimes ha enable ce ain a ionali ies and 132
5
ac ions while hinde ing o he s (Fuen schilling & T u e , 2014). Inno a ions migh be ejec ed 133
because hey do no i wi h exis ing indus y s uc u es o decision-making p ocesses (Smi h & 134
Ra en, 2012). Socio- echnical ansi ions a e abou changes in egimes, and hey equi e bo h s ong 135
al e na i es in niches and a ou able openings in egime-selec ion en i onmen s ia dynamics and 136
ensions wi hin and be ween egimes as well as due o landscape p essu e (Smi h e al., 2010). 137
Niche is de ined as a p o ec i e space o pa h-b eaking inno a ions which ail o success ully 138
compe e wi hin he selec ion en i onmen s o incumben socio- echnical egimes. In his pape , he 139
decen alised ci cula sys em is a po en ially pa h-b eaking inno a ion which he public sec o is 140
expec ed o p o ec in he con ex o u ban land-use planning (Figu e 1). In niches, inno a ions can 141
become compe i i e wi hin unchanged selec ion en i onmen s ( i and con o m) o when 142
mains eam selec ion en i onmen s change in a way a ou able o hem (s e ch-and- ans o m). 143
When an inno a ion is de eloped o i and con o m o an exis ing egime-selec ion en i onmen , i s 144
sus ainabili y is o en comp omised (Smi h & Ra en, 2012). 145
2.2 Decen alised ci cula sys em 146
The au ho s ha e de eloped a decen alised ci cula sys em ha consis s o an al e na i e sani a ion 147
sys em (Mau e , Bu a di, Tilley, Zu b ügg, & T u e , 2012) (sou ce-sepa a ing and u ine-di e ing 148
low-wa e oile s); a small-scale biogas plan o ea eces o black wa e , biowas e, ene gy c ops 149
and plan esidues; and he local u ilisa ion o nu ien s and gas (Figu e 2). In sou ce-sepa a ing 150
sani a ion, black wa e ( om a oile ) is collec ed sepa a ely om o he domes ic was ewa e . 151
Fu he mo e, low-wa e (d y o acuum) oile s enable concen a ions o black wa e and, 152
subsequen ly, di ec ea men in an anae obic diges e . U ine con ains mos o he nu ien s bu 153
has low ene gy po en ial, and i may be di e ed om black wa e using a u ine-di e ing oile . In 154
he decen alised ci cula sys em, nu ien s eco e ed om u ine and anae obic diges ion eeds ock 155
a e used in local scene y ields o cul i a e ene gy c ops and/o in nea by g eenhouse cul i a ion. 156
A e upg ading, biogas can be used locally, e.g., in household gas cooke s, as ehicle uel, o i can 157
be injec ed in o a gas g id. G ey wa e is ea ed ei he on si e o di ec ed o cen alised ea men ; 158
i can also be e-used, e.g., in g eenhouse i iga ion o as lush-wa e , i i ul ils quali y c i e ia. In 159
Finland, ields a e no ypically i iga ed; bu when global applica ions a e conside ed, i iga ion 160
me hods (Valipou , 2012) ha e g ea e impo ance. 161
162

6
163
Figu e 2. The ansi ion om a con en ional sani a ion sys em o a decen alised ci cula sys em, 164
which consis s o sou ce-sepa a ing oile s; a small-scale AD plan o ea local was e s eams; and 165
local u ilisa ion o end p oduc s. (Figu e: CLIC Inno a ion) 166
2.3 Case ci y o Tampe e, Finland 167
Finland is a No dic coun y wi h app oxima ely 5 million inhabi an s, a low popula ion densi y and 168
abundan eshwa e esou ces. In his s udy, he au ho s ocused on he Ci y o Tampe e, which is 169
one o he ew g owing u ban a eas (226,000 inhabi an s) in he coun y (Figu e 3). To posi ion he 170
decen alised ci cula sys em, cu en egimes in he case a ea need o be unde s ood. Cu en ly, 171
Tampe e and i s neighbou ing communi ies ely on cen alised was ewa e ea men and municipal 172
solid was e incine a ion. Biogas is an eme ging echnology o biowas e and sludge ea men . 173
Howe e , compos ing is a p e ailing echnology, and incine a ion is a compe ing al e na i e in 174
sludge ea men . The cen al wa e supply and sewage sys em co e s 85 o 96 pe cen o 175
households in he Tampe e egion’s communi ies (Me iluo o, Vinna i, Hu unen, & Salonsaa i, 2010). 176
Mixed solid was e collec ion co e s all o he households, whe eas sepa a e biowas e collec ion 177
co e s only u ban cen es. In spa sely popula ed a eas, decen alised and household-scale solu ions 178
o he wa e supply (wa e coope a i es and wells), biowas e ea men (compos ing), and 179
sani a ion (small-scale ea men o was ewa e o d y oile s) a e in use. The s udied decen alised 180
ci cula sys em challenges ongoing de elopmen , which elies on cen alisa ion. 181
7
Figu e 3. The case ci y o his s udy, Tampe e, loca ed in sou he n Finland. (Map da a: Google 2016) 182
2.4 Da a acquisi ion and analysis 183
Se en een expe s we e in e iewed ace- o- ace du ing au umn 2015 (Table 1). We looked o 184
expe s who we e (o could be) in ol ed in land-use planning in Tampe e, and who could 185
complemen he iews o di e en ac o s o he complexi y o local applica ions. Fi s , in e iewees 186
we e selec ed based on a esea ch s ee ing g oup’s expe ise. The s ee ing g oup consis ed o 187
ep esen a i es o he Sus ainable Bioene gy Solu ions o Tomo ow (BEST) esea ch p og amme. 188
Fu he in e iewees we e chosen based on gaps obse ed du ing ea lie in e iews and 189
ecommenda ions om in e iewees (snowballing me hod). The cu en egime was co e ed by six 190
ci y employees in ol ed in land-use planning, ep esen a i es o municipal unde akings ha un 191
was e and sani a ion se ices, a p ope y de elope om a cons uc ion company, and consul an s 192
who deal wi h land-use planning- ela ed asks ou sou ced by he ci y. When selec ing new 193
se ice/ echnology p o ide s needed in niche implemen a ion, ocus was placed on al e na i e 194
sani a ion sys ems and biogas p oduc ion. Mos o he expe s wo ked in R&D-o ien ed posi ions in 195
hei o ganisa ions. 196
Table 1. The in e iewees, hei o ganisa ions, and hei expe ise 197
In e iewee
O ganisa ion
Expe ise
1
Ci y o Tampe e
Wa e managemen
2
Ci y o Tampe e
Impac assessmen and s akeholde pa icipa ion
3
Ci y o Tampe e
New esiden ial a ea managemen (Vuo es p ojec )
4
Ci y o Tampe e
New esiden ial a ea managemen (Vuo es p ojec )
5
Ci y o Tampe e
Ene gy and clima e
6
Ci y o Akaa
Poli ician
7
Municipal
unde aking
Cen al was ewa e ea men plan unde planning
8
198
Semi-s uc u ed in e iews included he ollowing hemes: expe ience wi h new esiden ial a ea 199
de elopmen , he ac o ’s ole in land-use planning, he ac o ’s po en ial ole i he decen alised 200
ci cula sys em is implemen ed, and na a i es o success ul/unsuccess ul inno a ions. Du ing each 201
in e iew, he decen alised ci cula sys em (Figu e 2) was p esen ed wi h pp -slides, and expe s 202
we e asked o commen on in e iew hemes and o he issues eely du ing he p esen a ion. 203
P esen a ions o en led o li ely discussions in which in e iewees asked mo e ques ions, o e ed 204
imp o emen ideas, and commen ed/c i icised he decen alised ci cula sys em. The in e iews 205
las ed 30–120 minu es and we e oice- eco ded and ansc ibed. In addi ion, all in e iewees and 206
s ee ing-g oup membe s we e in i ed o a wo kshop in which d i e s, ba ie s and enable s o 207
decen alised ci cula sys em implemen a ion (in e iew esul s) we e discussed and de eloped. 208
Wo kshop pa icipan s selec ed he key issues ha should be emphasised in his s udy and 209
ecommended u he esea ch. Conside ing he wo-s age esea ch me hod and he di e se 210
p o essional and ins i u ional backg ounds o he in e iewees, he au ho s concluded ha he 17 211
selec ed expe s we e su icien o p o ide he answe s o he esea ch ques ions. 212
In di ec ed con en analysis (Hsieh & Shannon, 2005), d i e s, ba ie s and enable s o al e na i e 213
sys em implemen a ion we e sough . D i e s and ba ie s a e mul i-dimensional, causing (Geels, 214
2012) o hinde ing (Zhao, Chang, & Chen, 2016) socio- echnical ansi ion, espec i ely. In his pape , 215
d i e s e e o landscape-le el signals (Tengg en, Wangel, Nilsson, & Nyk is , 2016) and ends 216
which enhance he decen alised ci cula sys em’s po en ial. Ba ie s ep esen obs acles o he 217
deploymen o he al e na i e sys em (Quezada e al., 2016) and exis a each o he mul iple le els 218
(Zhao e al., 2016). Among a ious e ms, he au ho s adop ed enable , de ined as a equisi e 219
condi ion o suppo ing he adop ion o an al e na i e sys em (Quezada e al., 2016). I was ound 220
use ul o desc ibe condi ions ha a e no (ye ) s abilised bu which can de elop o suppo o hinde 221
he al e na i e sys em. 222
8
Municipal
unde aking
Was e R&D
9
Municipal
unde aking
Au oma ic acuum was e collec ion sys em
10
Cons uc ion
company
Cons uc ion con ac ing
11
Consul an
Ene gy and en i onmen al design: calcula ion, simula ion,
ideas, compe i ions and planning
12
Consul an
Planning o wa e , sewage and s o mwa e ne wo ks
13
Technology/se ice
p o ide
Was e/was ewa e collec ion and ea men sys ems and
ma ine sec o p oduc de elopmen
14
Technology/se ice
p o ide
Biogas business
15
Technology/se ice
p o ide
Pa icipa ing in ci y planning/de elopmen and o e ing
gas solu ions
16
Technology/se ice
p o ide
Gas R&D
17
Technology/se ice
p o ide
Biogas business de elopmen
9
3 In e iew esul s 223
In his sec ion, d i e s, ba ie s and enable s which he decen alised ci cula sys em ace in he 224
con ex o u ban land-use planning a e p esen ed. Themes aised in he in e iews we e di ided in o 225
se en ca ego ies: in e ac i e land-use planning and he ole o ac o s, in o ma ion p oduc ion and 226
sha ing, en i onmen al alues, echnical de elopmen and cos -e iciency, ope a ions model, 227
sui able a ea, and local bene i s. The esul s we e u he o ganised unde wo headlines de i ed 228
om he esea ch ques ions: u ban land-use planning ha enables ansi ion ( egime le el) and 229
cha ac e is ics o po en ial al e na i e concep s (niche le el). 230
3.1 U ban land-use planning ha enables ansi ion 231
3.1.1 In e ac i e land-use planning and he ole o ac o s 232
In e iewees desc ibed he Ci y o Tampe e o be in a s a e o change om con en ional planning 233
p ac ices owa ds mo e open and in e ac i e me hods, whe eby di e en expe s ha e become 234
in ol ed in he ea ly s ages ia me hods such as compe i ion, alliances and collabo a i e u ban 235
planning: 236
‘Ou p ojec aims o enhance new p ac ices. When he ci y pu s e o in o some hing, o he 237
ac o s also gi e hei inpu ’ (Ci y o Tampe e). 238
He e ogeneous g oups we e said o p oduce mo e ui ul plans. On he o he hand, discon inui y 239
and lack o esou ces o R&D in ci y o ganisa ion, lack o coope a ion be ween compe ing 240
companies, subjec i e in e es s e sus o e all bene i s, dominan indi iduals o o ganisa ions, and 241
engagemen by ac o s in a p olonged p ocess we e lis ed as challenges acing in e ac i e land-use 242
planning. The implemen a ion o inno a i e plans is also challenging: 243
‘In new a ea planning, he e a e so many hings ha i is easy o choose an old sys em he e. A 244
new sys em in i es people o complain and slow down he p ocess. Some imes we s udy new 245
ideas, bu hey a e no implemen ed because esiden s o o he ci y o ice s a e agains hem’ 246
(Consul an ). 247
Acco ding o he expe s, a p ojec owne who has he will and capabili y o inish he p ojec is 248
needed o implemen inno a ions and manage con ex . The p ojec owne should also be easy o 249
con ac when new ideas a e b ough in. When his s udy was ca ied ou , a new esiden ial a ea, 250
Vuo es, was unde cons uc ion in Tampe e. The Vuo es p ojec , which is an in e disciplina y 251
managemen uni esponsible o planning and cons uc ion in he a ea, was men ioned as an 252
example o success ul p ojec owne ship. In addi ion, collabo a i e u ban planning and au oma ic 253
acuum was e collec ion we e in oduced in Vuo es. In he case o acuum was e collec ion, 254
ep esen a i es o municipal unde akings ac ed as p agma ic sys em builde s and ha e been 255
ecognised as essen ial in ansla ing niche p ac ices in o o ms ag eeable o egime ac o s (Smi h, 256
2007). These ep esen a i es benchma ked in e na ional implemen a ions, sough sui able 257
echnology p o ide s, c ea ed new inancing models, and communica ed ac i ely wi h he Ci y o 258
Tampe e. 259
Cu en ope a o s we e said o ha e es ablished oles in land-use planning, so new a eas we e 260
planned based e y much on old sys ems. This inding suppo s he claim ha in as uc u e 261
16
plays an enabling ole in u ban planning, bu o municipal o icials and
poli icians, i is unclea which echnologies/solu ions should be enabled.
- Economics and accep abili y o e ide en i onmen al alues.
- Cu en ope a o s domina e and mus emain in hei old oles in planning.
- Ac o s ge in o land-use planning oo la e, and he oles o new ac o s a e
unclea .
- The cos -e iciency o new and small-scale solu ions is a challenge.
- Pilo upscaling is no sys ema ic.
- Exis ing in a (e.g., long pipelines) may educe sys em bene i s.
Enable s
- The p ojec owne is needed o communica e be ween niche and egime
le els.
- S eng hening ci y guidance in in as uc u e de elopmen ega ding
(en i onmen al) policy aims and he con ibu ions o esiden s and
s akeholde s o u ban planning may enhance c ea i i y, sha ed alue
c ea ion and accep abili y.
- Communica ion p o essionals can help wi h ansla ions wi hin he
ne wo k o ac o s.
- Decision make s’ in ol emen in R&D p ojec s and pilo s inc eases poli ical
willpowe and in o ma ion and p omo es implemen a ion.
- Sui able loca ions: Ci y ou ski s, a away om cen al plan s o a dense
u ban a ea wi h an en i onmen al p o ile, o a challenging p o ile o
g a i a ion sewage.
- Exis ing in a (e.g., gas g ids) may suppo he sys em in ce ain loca ions.
- A isible loop (e.g., nu ien s/ene gy) and local bene i s inc ease
a ac i eness.
- Inc eased knowledge on impac s and a compa ison o he dominan
sys em in each case a e needed o suppo decision making.
- Technology o he decen alised ci cula sys em is a ailable.
- Technology needs o be ma u e enough.
- Compe en pa ne s o each pa o he indus ial ecosys em a e needed.
- Ope a ions and inancing solu ions equi e open hinking.
- Making he ci y a lea ning o ganisa ion by u ilising pilo s, ailed p ojec s
e c.
4 Discussion 496
4.1 How o ge om he e o he e 497
When looked a om a mul i-le el pe spec i e, u ban land-use planning belongs o egimes, which 498
ha e o change in o de o enable socio- echnical ansi ions (Smi h e al., 2010). Howe e , he 499
decen alised ci cula sys em belongs o niches, which should de elop so hey can compe e in 500
egime selec ion en i onmen s o , p e e ably, change hose en i onmen s (Smi h & Ra en, 2012). 501
The au ho s assume ha s eng hening he enable s iden i ied in his s udy and o e coming ba ie s, 502
may acili a e a socio- echnical ansi ion owa ds mo e sus ainable u ban in as uc u es in 503
Tampe e. In Figu e 4, imp o emen sugges ions a e a anged acco ding o MLP. 504

17
505
Figu e 4. Sugges ions o imp o ing condi ions ha suppo a ci cula sys em neighbou hood on 506
mul iple le els. 507
S a ing a he landscape le el, a sus ainabili y ansi ion could be acili a ed by b inging alues in o 508
p ac ice mo e e ec i ely. En i onmen al alues and al e na i e solu ions end o ge los in mul i-509
s age u ban land-use planning, p ocu emen and ou sou ced ope a ions. Despi e i s enabling ole in 510
land-use planning, he Ci y o Tampe e should emain in con ol and guide in as uc u e sec o s 511
acco ding o (en i onmen al) poli ical aims. A he egime le el, he c ucial challenge o u ban land-512
use planning is o accep new ac o s (ope a o s, po en ial echnology/se ice p o ide s, 513
esiden s/ci il socie y) and al e na i e solu ions mo e sys ema ically and hones ly wi hou losing he 514
bene i s o cu en ly unc ioning in as uc u es, which should ins ead be imp o ed. In e ms o 515
pa icipa ion, he o ma ion o issues is mo e impo an han conduc ing he p ocedu e ‘by he book’ 516
(Leino & Laine, 2012). As echnological de elopmen is accele a ing, he public sec o needs o 517
imp o e i s abili y o eac , lea n and adap (Ribei o & Zampa u i, 2015). A he niche le el, he 518
success o he decen alised ci cula sys em and he ac ions suppo ing i depend on local 519
condi ions. Imp o ing he easibili y o such an indus ial ecosys em equi es open hinking, 520
compe en pa ne s, ma u e echnology and sui able loca ions. Visible local bene i s can make he 521
sys em mo e a ac i e and accep able. 522
4.2 Feasibili y o he decen alised ci cula sys em 523
Facili a ing socio- echnical ansi ion is discussed abo e, bu could he decen alised ci cula sys em 524
become a pa o in as uc u e in Tampe e? The au ho s assume ha i could balance esou ce 525
cycles, enhance enewable ene gy p oduc ion, educe in as uc u e cos s, and suppo he socio-526
economic de elopmen o local businesses and socie ies in ce ain loca ions. In addi ion, ongoing 527
R&D o ene gy echnologies and nu ien ecycling may imp o e he cos -e iciency o he sys em. 528
Howe e , his pape did no ocus on hese e ec s. 529
18
C i ically speaking, some o he esul s call in o ques ion he abili y o he decen alised ci cula 530
sys em o imp o e sus ainabili y and li eabili y. Fi s , a high-p o ile neighbou hood in a p is ine a ea 531
seems o be a sui able loca ion o he sys em because esiden s he e a e eady o pay and he e is 532
a lack o in as uc u e (e.g., pipelines). Howe e , cons uc ion on g een ield land is no he desi ed 533
di ec ion o u ban de elopmen , and a li eable a ea should be accessible o a wide socio-economic 534
g oup. The e o e, cos -e iciency, cos a oidance and local bene i s should be sough om loca ions 535
whe e o he aspec s o sus ainabili y a e no comp omised. Second, he echnical ma u i y o he 536
decen alised ci cula sys em is doub ul. When componen s o se e al no el solu ions (including 537
al e na i e sani a ion sys ems, small-scale anae obic diges ion and u ban a ming) a e combined, 538
echnical and ope a ional challenges canno be a oided. In addi ion, he accep abili y o he s udied 539
sys em is unce ain. Cu en u ban was e/wa e managemen is based on he ‘ lush and o ge ’ 540
p inciple, and local ea men possibly equi ing esiden main enance needs o be hough ou 541
ca e ully in a pa icipa o y planning p ocess. Finally, nega i e en i onmen al e ec s need o be 542
conside ed i he decen alised ci cula sys em we e o be implemen ed. e.g., a li ecycle assessmen 543
om Sweden (Spångbe g, Tidåke , & Jönsson, 2014) showed ha sou ce-sepa a ing sani a ion and 544
nu ien ecycling imp o ed ene gy e iciency and dec eased global-wa ming po en ial, bu 545
inc eased he po en ial o eu ophica ion and acidi ica ion when compa ed o ad anced 546
was ewa e ea men plan s and a i icial e ilise s. 547
By compa ison, in Aus alia, whe e ex eme wea he condi ions ha e pushed e o ms o wa d, he 548
u ban wa e sec o is in he ea ly s ages o a mul i-decade shi om cen alisa ion o pa ial 549
decen alisa ion based on local condi ions (Quezada e al., 2016). T ansi ion in he Aus alian wa e 550
sec o is desc ibed as a compe i ion be ween ‘wa e -sensi i e logic’ and ‘wa e -ma ke logic’, which 551
a e challenging he cu en ‘hyd aulic logic’. Hyd aulic logic is cha ac e ised by public au ho i ies and 552
echnical expe ise, wa e -ma ke logic by p i a e i ms and economic expe ise, and wa e -sensi i e 553
logic by social mo emen s and decen alised wa e - ecycling echnologies (Fuen schilling & T u e , 554
2014). U ban in as uc u es may de elop simila ou es in Finland. Howe e , any ansi ion in 555
Finland will likely be shaped by local cha ac e is ics, such as abundan wa e and o es esou ces, a 556
no he n clima e, he wel a e s a e, au onomous municipali ies, long dis ances and a spa se 557
popula ion. Fo ecas ing o ms o socio- echnical ansi ion is di icul , o as (Bell, 2015) pu i : 558
‘Al e na i e echnologies and discou ses a e eme ging in u ban wa e in as uc u e, bu a e a 559
om uni ied in he ideologies hey s abilise.’ 560
4.3 Conclusions and u he esea ch 561
This s udy ocused on one niche-le el inno a ion and how i could unbalance incumben egimes in 562
Tampe e, Finland. Howe e , he esul s elici s ill wide ques ions abou socio- echnical ansi ion in 563
in as uc u e sec o s. Any niche-le el inno a ion would ace a simila s uggle ge ing in o u ban 564
land-use planning and ac ually being implemen ed. The main imp o emen sugges ions, such as 565
ea ly in ol emen o ac o s, imp o ed communica ions, and mo e sys ema ic pilo upscaling, may be 566
applied o any ci y; whe eas some d i e s, ba ie s and enable s, e.g., dominan cu en ope a o s 567
and accep abili y, depend mo e on local condi ions such as u ban planning p ac ices and sui able 568
echnologies. Fu he esea ch should include he ole o esiden s in he sus ainabili y ansi ion 569
wi hin in as uc u e sec o s, houses as an in e ace o in as uc u e sys ems, in o ma ion low in 570
land-use planning, impac assessmen and pilo upscaling. 571
19
Acknowledgemen s 572
The au ho s would like o hank all o he in e iew and wo kshop pa icipan s o hei ime and 573
hough ul commen s; Ma i Tuomaala (Gasum) and Ma ja Englund (Fo um) o hei inspi a ion 574
ini ia ing and guidance o he esea ch p ojec ; P incipal Scien is Ma ia Åke man (VTT); and 575
anonymous e iewe s o hei many cons uc i e insigh s and sugges ions. 576
Funding: This wo k was suppo ed by he Finnish Funding Agency o Technology and Inno a ion, 577
Tekes [g an numbe 48/31/2013]; and au ho XX was suppo ed by he Academy o Finland [g an 578
numbe 289691]. 579
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