In line with the 2015 Paris Agreement, the Netherlands aims for a fully sustainable heat supply by 2050. As of 2019, natural gas met 85% of the nation's heat demand, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable, region-specific heating technologies. In Fryslân, a water-rich Dutch province, Aquathermal Energy (AE) could meet 60% of the heat demand. Therefore, governments in the region seek to establish Aquathermal District Heating Networks (ADHNs) through a collaborative project group. This study develops a decision-making framework to assist policymakers in creating region-specific governance arrangements for ADHNs in Fryslân, ensuring their effective and timely implementation. The research adopts an exploratory approach, utilizing a theoretical framework and qualitative methods, including semi-structured expert interviews, thematic analysis, and an interactive validation workshop.

The resulting framework comprises three steps: defining system changes, balancing implications, and exploring design directions. Policymakers are advised to deliberate on core objectives and subsequent resource commitments. Further, they are guided to weigh governance implications, addressing key considerations such as the trade-off between bottom-up and standardized approaches, timing risks, and the suitability of different governance instruments. Lastly, the framework suggests phased governance arrangements and the development of supra-municipal governance structures as potential directions for further design efforts.

This research offers a significant theoretical contribution by integrating governance frameworks, providing a versatile tool for governance analysis applicable to various regions and energy infrastructures. Additionally, by highlighting the complexities of regional governance in the energy transition, the study emphasizes the necessity for clear, region-specific governance structures and stakeholder integration. Future research should focus on designing concrete governance arrangements, conducting comparative case studies, exploring multi-level governance perspectives, and refining the integrated theoretical framework’s application.