Introduction to Sustainable Energy

Calendar

SES #	INSTRUCTORS	TOPICS	KEY DATES
Part I: Energy in context
1a	Golay	Introduction
1b	Wright	Overview of energy use and related issues
2	Ronald Prinn, MIT Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences	“Climate Change: Science, Economics, and Policy.” Global climate change issues and responses	Problem Set 1 posted
3a	Field	Toolbox 1: Energy transfer and conversion methods
3b	Golay	Drake, Elisabeth. “Energy and sustainability issues.” 10.391J, January 2007. Sustainability, energy, and clean technologies in context
4a	Wright	Recitation 1: Discussion of sustainability issues	Problem Set 1 due Problem Set 2 posted Initial Term Paper Prospectus due
4b	Golay	Toolbox 2: Resource evaluation and depletion analyses
5a	Field	Toolbox 3: Energy conversion, transmission, and storage
5b	Katherine Dykes, MIT Engineering Systems Division	“Wind power fundamentals.” (contributions from Alex Kalmikov & Kathy Araujo)
6a	Wright	Toolbox 4: Systems analysis methodologies	Problem Set 2 due Problem Set 3 posted
6b	Golay	Toolbox 5: Energy supply, demand, and storage planning	Initial Term Paper Prospectus returned
7a	Stephen Fairfax, MTechnology, Inc.	“Changes in the Electric Power Sector.” The electric power system and requirements for success
7b	Tim Heidel, MIT Energy Initiative	“New Challenges and Opportunities for the Electric Grid.” Historical factor and prospects for change in the electric power grid
8a	Wright	Toolbox 6: Electrical systems dynamics	Revised Term Paper Prospectus due
8b	Wright	Toolbox 7: Economic feasibility assessment methods
9a	Field	Toolbox 8: Thermodynamics and efficiency calculations	Problem Set 3 due Problem Set 4 posted
9b	Robert Stavins, Harvard Kennedy School of Government	“International Climate Change Policy: From Copenhagen to Cancún, and Beyond.” Carbon limitation policy options
Part II: Specific energy technologies
10	Golay	Nuclear energy I: Basics and current status
11a	Field	Fossil energy I	Term Paper Advisors assigned
11b	Green	“The Dominant Piece of the Energy System: Fossil Fuels.” Fossil energy II
12a	Craig Olmsted, Cape Wind	Cape Wind energy and offshore wind projects
12b	Ernest Moniz, MIT Physics / Engineering Systems Division	Current energy policy
13a	Ralph Gakenheimer, MIT Urban Studies and Planning	“Transport Issues and the Environment in Latin America.” Transportation in developing countries	Problem Set 4 due Problem Set 5 posted
13b	Green	Fossil energy III
14a	Ralph Izzo, PSEG	Electricity generation options
14b	Golay	Nuclear energy II: Waste disposal and Yucca Mountain
15a	Golay	Nuclear energy III: Expansion of civilian nuclear power and proliferation
15b	Wright	Fusion as a future energy source?	Take-Home Exam 1 posted
16a	Michael Fehler, MIT Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences	Carbon management options
16b	Michael Fehler, MIT Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences	Geothermal energy	Problem Set 5 due Problem Set 6 posted
17	Vladimir Bulovic, MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science	“Capturing Solar Energy.” Solar photovoltaics and thermal energy	Term Paper Outline (with references) due Schedule meeting with Term Paper advisor
18	Hussein Abdelhalim, Mark Artz, et al.	Recitation 2: Carbon limitation options / critique (student-led discussion)	Problem Set 6 due Problem Set 7 posted
19a	Green	Biomass I: Resources and uses
19b	Green	Biomass II: Producing liquid fuels
Part III: Energy end use, option assessment, and tradeoff analysis
20a	Don MacKenzie, MIT Engineering Systems Division	“Automotive Technologies and Fuel Economy Policy.” (contributions from Irene Berry) Transportation	Draft Term Paper due
20b	Addison Stark, MIT Mechanical Engineering	Lifecycle analysis of biomass conversion
21a	Katherine Dykes, MIT Engineering Systems Division	“Systems Dynamics & Sustainable Energy.” Wind system dynamics, barriers to entry	Problem Set 7 due Problem Set 8 posted
21b	Donald Sadoway, MIT Materials Science & Engineering	“Electrochemical Approaches to Electrical Energy Storage.” Electrochemical energy conversions
22a	Leon Glicksman, MIT Architecture / Mechanical Engineering	“The Energy Crisis: A Neglected Solution.” Sustainable buildings in developing countries
22b	Golay	Toolbox 9: Probabilistic risk analysis
23	Edward Alfano, et al.	Recitation 3: Current energy policy / critique (student-led discussion)	Problem Set 8 due Take-Home Exam 2 posted Term Paper Revisions returned
24a	John Reilly, MIT Sloan School of Management	“Why so little progress on international climate negotiations?” Corporate and international efforts to abate global climate change; sustainability and global business	Take-Home Exam 2 due
24b	Golay	Hydropower
25a	Robert Stoner, MIT Energy Initiative	“Sustainable Energy: Options for Africa.” Challenges and options for electricity systems in Sub-Saharan Africa
25b	Golay/all	Course summary, panel discussion	Final Term Paper due