SOREC2 organizes a multi dimensional workshop to asses the future of PEC technology

On 8 and 9 May 2025, the SOREC2 consortium, through its partner Democracy X, held a two-day Quadruple Helix Multi-Criteria Workshop at the Residence Palace in the European District of Brussels. The event focused on the future development and application of Photo-Electrochemical Cells (PECs) within the context of sustainable energy and carbon capture technologies.

The primary objective of the workshop was to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders from academia, industry, policy, and society on the potential societal and environmental impacts, barriers, and opportunities of PEC technology. Through structured discussions and facilitated deliberation, participants examined PECs from multiple perspectives, including technological, political, and environmental dimensions.

A total of 14 people participated in the workshop, representing diverse sectors relevant to the PEC ecosystem. The format followed the principles of the Quadruple Helix model, which acknowledges innovation as a collaborative effort between four main stakeholder groups. The methodology also employed a Multi-Criteria approach. Following this approach, the SOREC2 Technology, due to its complexity, was divided into four key dimensions—Technology, Energy Security, Environmental Impacts, and Political Significance—each broken down into three assessment criteria.

“The Multi-Criteria approach allowed us to break down the complex SOREC2 technology into manageable parts for more structured evaluation,” explained Thomas Richardt Ratje, project manager from Democracy X and workshop organiser.

Bridging Stakeholder Dialogue on PEC’s Future

The workshop combined knowledge inputs, group work, and plenary sessions. It began with an introduction to the workshop methodology and purpose, an overview of the SOREC2 technology, and insights from prior citizen engagement process developed by the project partners in the last months. Participants were then divided into four working groups to conduct the first assessment round, “Identifying Challenges.” Each group focused on one dimension, identifying and scoring challenges related to their assigned criteria. These findings were shared in a plenary session, allowing cross-group feedback.

The second assessment round, “Sketching Solutions,” took place in two sessions—one at the end of the first day and the other at the start of the second day. Participants proposed potential solutions to the identified challenges and revised their initial assessments based on these proposals. A final plenary session was held at the end of the second day to present the updated evaluations.

Challenges and Potential for PEC Advancement

According to the organisers, the workshop highlighted that while PEC technology currently faces substantial challenges—especially in areas such as affordability, public acceptance, and environmental impact—many of these barriers are not insurmountable. In the first round of assessment, only one of the twelve criteria, measurable energy security, received a positive score.

However, in the second round, the majority of criteria showed improved scores following the group discussions and proposed solutions. “These findings suggest that with targeted innovation and appropriate policy development, the current challenges can be addressed,” said Ratje.

Ratje also noted that although broader participation was initially sought, the depth of engagement by those present at the Brussels event significantly enriched the discussions. “Sometimes, you are fortunate enough to have convened a group of participants who buy into the methodology and give it their all. This was one of those times.”

Ratje also acknowledged the difficulty in recruiting non-academic participants, given the highly technical and forward-looking nature of PEC technology. “At this stage, most interest comes from academia, as the technology remains relatively unknown outside specialist circles.”

The outcomes of this workshop will inform a broader assessment process within the SOREC2 project. A policy event is planned for autumn 2025, where findings from this and other societal engagement events and investigations will be compiled into policy options aimed at supporting the future regulatory landscape for PEC technologies.