Large-scale implementation of sector coupling in Europe – a cross-disciplinary barrier analysis towards solution themes

Sector coupling can help cut costs and boost sustainability, offering a cost-effective solution to Europe's energy affordability challenge. However, in practice, sector coupling has not yet found large-scale implementation. By conducting a systematic review of extant literature, this paper identifies barriers to the large-scale implementation of sector coupling and proposes solution themes to realise its potential. Of the 63 barriers identified, the top recurring barriers include high initial investments and high costs relative to fossil fuels, deficient market and regulatory structures, lack of consumer engagement, and stakeholder coordination issues – demonstrating it is a complex interplay of technical, economic, regulatory, market, social, and institutional barriers hindering the implementation. Utilising an inductive analysis approach, the paper identifies 11 solution themes that necessitate coordinated action, with consideration of interdependencies across sectors, national contexts, energy carriers, and transition barriers, finally discussing future perspectives within a barrier-based pathway towards the large-scale implementation of sector coupling. The findings emphasise the intricate interdependence of sector coupling barriers, underscoring the necessity of shifting attention from barrier lists to cross-disciplinary, implementation-oriented transition pathways and phase-specific policy interventions. Whilst the European strategy towards sector coupling is mostly outlined, barriers concentrate around achieving sector coupling offering maturity, adapting sector coupling market design and regulation and pushing sector coupling market adoption at scale, indicating that the potential of sector coupling to reduce energy transition costs in the short-term appears constrained and pointing instead towards the necessity for an orchestrated multi-actor implementation pathway within the broader energy transition. • Identified 63 sector coupling implementation barriers in semi-systematic review. • Showed regulatory, market & social barriers hinder implementation beyond technology. • Synthesised barriers into 11 interdependent, cross-disciplinary solution themes. • Outlined a transition-oriented pathway from strategy to integrated energy systems. • Discussed maturity & market design as key bottlenecks – call for orchestrated action.