Municipal sector coupling refers to the integration of renewable electricity and other renewable carriers into the end‑use sectors of households, transport, industry, and commercial services at the local level. The concept aims to cut greenhouse‑gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels and to increase system flexibility and services. The project “Future of Municipal Sector Coupling” was led by the Institute for Consequence Assessment and System Analysis at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (grant 03EI5205A‑D). Partners included the Research Institute for Energy Economics, the Association of German Scientists, Dialogik non‑profit communication and cooperation research society, and the German Association of Municipalities. The online survey, conducted until 14 November 2022, gathered 71 respondents for concept understanding, 55 for definition, 59 for technology planning, 49 for implementation status, 55 for drivers and barriers, and 51 for role assessment. The questionnaire was anonymous and required about 20 minutes to complete.

The survey revealed uneven awareness of the term “sector coupling.” Only 30 % of respondents reported encountering the term frequently in their work, while 45 % said they rarely or never see it. Understanding varied: 40 % interpreted it as the technical integration of renewable electricity into heating or transport, whereas 25 % viewed it as a broader socio‑technical transformation involving multiple energy carriers. When asked about technologies, heat pumps, electric vehicles, biogas, district heating, and renewable electricity integration were most frequently cited. Planning and implementation status showed that only 20 % of municipalities had concrete sector‑coupling projects underway, 35 % were in the planning phase, and 45 % had no plans yet. Drivers identified were climate targets (70 %) and the energy crisis (55 %), while barriers were lack of knowledge (60 %), financial constraints (50 %), and regulatory hurdles (45 %). Regarding roles, municipalities saw themselves mainly as planners and regulators (55 %), but also as consumers (30 %) and promoters (25 %).

These findings underscore that municipal sector coupling is still in its early stages of adoption. The technical potential is high, yet the realization depends on overcoming knowledge gaps, securing financing, and aligning regulatory frameworks. The project’s results provide a baseline for future policy and practice, offering municipalities a clearer picture of where they stand and what steps are needed to advance sector coupling at the local level. The working paper, published in 2024, serves as a resource for stakeholders seeking to understand the current state and future prospects of municipal sector coupling in Germany.