InfraPOD

Nadine Schröder & Laurenz Peters

Infrastructures are the hidden systems that shape our everyday life. With this podcast, we want to bring infrastructures into the spotlight, because we believe that a better future is possible if we can understand and purposefully transform the systems that quitely run our world. Impressum – Legal Disclosure Nadine Schröder Fachgebiet Landmanagement Franziska-Braun Straße 7, 64287 Darmstadt nadine.schroeder@tu-darmstadt.de

Episodes

  1. 03 | Energy Transition

    6 DAYS AGO

    03 | Energy Transition

    In this episode we are looking at theories about technological innovation to better understand the currently ongoing transition of our energy system. We discuss relevant components of the new energy system, political drivers and barriers, and hypothesize about what our energy system might look like in the future. References AG Energiebilanzen e.V. (2025). Energy consumption in Germany in 2024. Available at: https://ag-energiebilanzen.de/wp-content/uploads/AGEB_Jahresbericht2024_20250815_en.pdf Meyer, T. (2024) Strom. Über Nostalgie, Zukunft und warum der Markt längst entschieden hat. ISBN: 9 783 769 351224 Innovation Curves Rogers, E.M. (2003) Diffusion of Innovations, 5th Edition. Free Press, New York. Howaldt, J., Kopp, R., Schwarz, M. (2025). Diffusion of Innovation. In: Schulz-Schaeffer, I., Windeler, A., Blättel-Mink, B. (eds) Handbook of Innovation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25143-6_33-1 Foster, R.N. (1986) Innovation. Die technologische Offensive. 1st edition. Gabler Verlag Wiesbaden. Multi-Level Perspective Geels, Frank. (2024). The Multi-Level Perspective on Sustainability Transitions: Background, overview, and current research topics. 10.33774/coe-2024-c15gb. Learning curves (incl. Graphic) Roser, M. (2023) Learning curves: What does it mean for a technology to follow Wright's Law? Published online at OurWorldinData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20251125-173858/learning-curve.html' Current state of the energy transition Brucksch, J., Figgener, J., Hecht, C., Sauer, D.W. (2026) Germany adds 6.57 GWh of battery storage capacity in 2025, total capacity hits 24 GWh. https://www.ess-news.com/2026/01/09/germany-adds-6-57-gwh-of-battery-storage-capacity-in-2025-total-capacity-hits-24-gwh/ Deshaies, M. (2026). The German Energiewende: A Green Deal Template or Planned Failure?. In: Henrekson, M., Sandström, C., Stenkula, M. (eds) A Green Entrepreneurial State?. International Studies in Entrepreneurship, vol 49. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-15512-2_7 IIGCC (2025). Policy Briefing: EU CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and vans. https://www.iigcc.org/insights/policy-briefing-eu-co2-emission-performance-standards-for-new-passenger-cars-and-vans?utm_source=chatgpt.com Schill, W.-P., Aichner, N. & Roth, A. (2026) Favorable conditions allow accelearting the renewable energy transition. DIW Weekly Report 3|2026. https://www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/diw_01.c.994726.de/dwr-26-03.pdf

    55 min
  2. 02 | History of the energy system

    23 APR

    02 | History of the energy system

    In this episode we are retracing the historic development of the energy systems since earliest civilizations. Our use of energy has always been interrelated with human development, innovation, and progress. By learning about how the energy system has developed alongside human societies, we want to give you some context for the upcoming transition towards decarbonized energy systems. Main reference Rutter, P. & Keirstead, J. (2012). A brief history and the possible future of urban energy systems. Energy Policy. Volume 50. Pages 72-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.03.072 Additional references Syvitski et al. (2020). Extraordinary human energy consumption and resultant geological impacts beginning around 1950 CE initiated the proposed Anthropocene Epoch. Communications Earth & Environment. Volume 1, Article number: 32. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00029-y Fizaine, F. & Court, V. (2016). Energy expenditure, economic growth, and the minimum EROI of society. Energy Policy. Volume 95. Pages 172–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.04.039

    51 min
  3. 01 | What is infrastructure?

    16 APR

    01 | What is infrastructure?

    What is “infrastructure”? Is it limited to roads, bridges, and energy systems or does it extend to ecosystems, care work, and social institutions? In this opening episode we interrogate the concept of infrastructure from different perspectives. Moving beyond conventional definitions, we explore infrastructure as a system that is not only physical but also relational, institutional, and deeply embedded in human life. Drawing on insights from systems theory, anthropology, and political economy, we discussion the expanding scope of infrastructure to include green (natural) systems and social reproduction processes. References Larkin, B. (2013). The politics and poetics of infrastructure. Annual Review of Anthropology, 42, 327–343. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-anthro-092412-155522 Kanoi, L., Koh, V., Lim, A., Yamada, S., & Dove, M. R. (2022). What is infrastructure? What does it do? Anthropological perspectives on the workings of infrastructure(s). Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability, 2(1), 012002. https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ac4429 Silva, J. M. C. da, & Wheeler, E. (2017). Ecosystems as infrastructure. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, 15(1), 32–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2016.11.005 O'Sullivan, K.C., Olin, C.V., Pierse, N., Howden-Chapman, P. (2023). Housing: the key infrastructure to achieving health & wellbeing in urban environments. Oxford Open Infrastructure and Helath, Volume 1, 2023, ouad001, https://doi.org/10.1093/ooih/ouad001 Claims Unpaid care work in the UK is valued at 1 trillion GBP: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/03/british-people-do-more-than-1-trillion-of-housework-each-year-unpaid

    46 min
  4. Teaser: InfraPOD

    12 APR

    Teaser: InfraPOD

    In this episode we give a brief overview of what we will cover in the podcast. If you have questions or feedback, please direct them to: nadine.schroeder@tu-darmstadt.de

    2 min

Trailer

About

Infrastructures are the hidden systems that shape our everyday life. With this podcast, we want to bring infrastructures into the spotlight, because we believe that a better future is possible if we can understand and purposefully transform the systems that quitely run our world. Impressum – Legal Disclosure Nadine Schröder Fachgebiet Landmanagement Franziska-Braun Straße 7, 64287 Darmstadt nadine.schroeder@tu-darmstadt.de

Information

  • Creator
    Nadine Schröder & Laurenz Peters
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Nadine Schröder & Laurenz Peters 2026
  • Show Website
    InfraPOD