| SES # | TOPICS | READINGS |
|---|---|---|
| Part I: Energy in Context | ||
| L1 | Introduction: Subject Overview and Administration - Prof. Michael Golay Historical Context Energy Sources for a More Sustainable Future Sustainable Energy Text | Tester, et al. Chapter 1. |
| L2 | Overview of Energy Use and Related Issues - Prof. Michael Golay Major Energy Options Issues of Supply and Demand Overview of Units and Dimensions for Global Energy Flows (Quads, MMBOE, MW, EJ, etc.) Energy Conversions (Chemical to Thermal, Chemical to Electric, etc.) Economic Considerations | |
| TBL1 | Energy Resource Assessment - Prof. Michael Golay Major Energy Options (Solar, Geologic, Ocean) Resource Base - Uncertainties, Grade/Quality Issues, Resource vs. Reserve Estimates, Economic Evaluation Frameworks Energy Transmission and Distribution (Pipelines, Tankers, Rail, Power Lines) | Tester, et al. Chapter 2. |
| L3 | Sustainability, Energy, and Clean Technologies in Context - Dr. Elisabeth Drake Issues: Frameworks for Evaluation Sustainability Attributes Time an Space Scales Population and Consumption Growth, Tradeoffs and Choices Uncertainty | |
| TBL2 | Energy Supply, Demand, and Storage Planning Methods - Prof. Michael Golay Matching Energy Density of Supply and Demand Temporal and Geographical Distributions Role of Energy Storage Intermittency Influences of Pricing During Demand Peaks and Valleys | Tester, et al. Chapter 16. |
| L4 | Resource Evaluation and Depletion Analysis - Prof. Michael Golay | |
| R1 | Discussion of Sustainability Issues - Dr. Elisabeth Drake Technical Feasibility Opportunities and Barriers; Timing Issues Drivers of Change? | Tester, et al. Chapter 6. Scott, H. P., et al. "Generation of methane in the Earth's mantle: in situ high pressure- temperature measurements of carbonate reduction." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101, no. 39 (September 28, 2004): 14023-14026. |
| TBL3 | Economic Feasibility Assessment Methods - Prof. Michael Golay Engineering, Capital, and Investment Costs Fuel Costs Life Cycle Costs Environmental Externalities (Emissions, Wastes, etc.) Uncertainties | Tester, et al. Chapter 5. |
| L5 | Global Change Issues and Responses - Prof. Peter Stone Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Potential Effects Modeling of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Terrestrial Effects Effects on Ecology and Biodiversity (Local-regional Global) Responses to CO2 Build-up Mitigation? | Tester, et al. Chapter 4. |
| L6 | International Efforts to Abate Global Change - Prof. Henry Jacoby | |
| R2 | Further Discussion on Term Paper Requirements and Topic Assignments - Dr. Elisabeth Drake | Tester, et al. Chapter 4. |
| L7 | Regional Air Pollution - Prof. Greg McRae | |
| TBL4 | Systems Analysis Methodologies - Dr. Elisabeth Drake Scoping Analysis Simulation Models Economic Models Life Cycle Analysis Systems Dynamic Models Decision Models Selecting System Boundaries | |
| R3 | Discussion on Energy Resources and Depletion - Dr. Elisabeth Drake | |
| L8 | Overview of Energy Supply Portfolio - Prof. Jefferson Tester Criteria for Evaluating Energy Technologies Solar Based: Thermal; PV; Wind; Biomass; etc. Earth Based: Fossil; Nuclear; Hydro; Geothermal; etc. Ocean Based and Others | Tester, et al. Sections 7.1, 7.2, 8.1-8.3, and Chapter 9. |
| TBL5 | Energy Transfer and Conversion Methods - Prof. Jefferson Tester Physical Properties (Density, Heat Capacity, Latent Heat, ...) Chemical Reactions and Kinetics - Fossil and Biomass Fuel Time-scales Transport Phenomena and Rates Energy Storage Modes Electrochemical Conversions | Tester, et al. Chapter 3. |
| L9 | Energy Conversion, Transmission, and Storage - Prof. Jefferson Tester Matching Supply and Demand to Minimize Losses Energy Storage and Transmission Issues Energy Chains and Connected Efficiencies Storage Modes Ragone Plot Transmission of Fossil Fuels and Electricity | Tester, et al. Chapter 16. |
| TBL6 | Thermodynamics and Efficiency Analysis Methods - Prof. Jefferson Tester First and Second Laws Availability Power Cycles and Heat Pumps Topping and Bottoming Cycles | Tester, et al. Chapter 3. |
| Part II: Specific Energy Technologies | ||
| L10 | Geothermal Energy - Prof. Jefferson Tester Resources, Types, Magnitudes Technical, Environmental, Societal, and Economic Issues Drilling Technologies Subsurface Reservoir Systems Heat and Power Conversion Technologies Future Opportunities | Tester, et al. Chapters 11 and 12. |
| L11 | Hydropower - Prof. Jefferson Tester Technical Issues (Hydraulic Head, Turbines, etc.) Reliability and Growth Potential Water Management (Inundation, Leaching, Fish Impacts, Irrigation, Waste Management, etc.) Life Cycle Aspects and Economics | |
| L12-L13 | Joint Video-link Class with Cambridge University - U.S. and British Energy Policies and Issues - Prof. Nuttall and Prof. Michael Golay | |
| L14 | Nuclear Waste Disposal - Prof. Andrew Kadak | |
| R4 | Problem Session: Economics, Energy Conversion, Systems Analysis - Prof. Michael Golay | |
| Midterm Exam - 2 Hour Exam (Open Book, Class Notes and Calculator Permitted) | ||
| L15 | Electrochemical Energy Storage: Batteries and Fuel Cells - Prof. Donald Sadoway | |
| L16 | Fuel Cell and Distributed Energy Programs in Industry - Dr. Javit Drake, Gillette Techical Center | |
| R5 | Review of Mid-Term Exam | |
| L17 | Biomass Energy - Prof. Jefferson Tester Resource Types and Requirements Technical and Environmental Issues Land use (Ecological Stress, Competition with Food, Water use, Topsoil Erosion, Occupational Hazards) Utilization Options Economic Projections | Tester, et al. Chapter 10. Wigley, T. M. L. "The Climate Change Commitment." Science 307, no. 5716 (March 18, 2005): 1766-1769. Meehl, Gerald A., Warren M. Washington, William D. Collins, Julie M. Arblaster, Aixue Hu, Lawrence E. Buja, Warren G. Strand, and Haiyan Teng. "How Much More Global Warming and Sea Level Rise?" Science 307, no. 5716 (March 18, 2005): 1769-1772. |
| L18 | Biomass Conversion to Liquid Fuels - Prof. Jefferson Tester | |
| R6 | Biomass Conversion Discussion - Prof. Jefferson Tester with input from Michael Rabb, Jeremy Johnson, and Dr. Morgan Fröling LCA and New Genetic Engineering Approaches | |
| L19 | Nuclear Energy I: Present Technologies - Prof. Michael Golay | Tester, et al. Chapter 8. |
| L20 | Nuclear Energy II: Future Technologies and the Fuel Cycle - Prof. Michael Golay | |
| L21 | Fossil Energy I - Prof. Ahmed Ghoniem Types and Characteristics Technologies Associated Economics and Impacts Fossil Fuel Switching (Syn Fuels, LNG, Carbon Sequestration) | Tester, et al. Chapter 7. |
| L22 | Fossil Energy II - Prof. Ahmed Ghoniem Fuel Conversion, Power Cycles, Combined Cycles Advanced Technologies | |
| L23 | Fusion Energy Technologies - Prof. Jeff Friedberg | Tester, et al. Chapter 8.19. |
| R7 | Problem Session on Energy System Analysis - Prof. Michael Golay | |
| L24 | Wind Power - Dr. Robert W. Thresher, NREL | Tester, et al. Chapter 15. |
| L25 | Cape Wind Energy and Offshore Wind Projects - Mr. Jim Gordon, President of Cape Wind, Inc. | |
| L26 | Solar Thermal Energy - Prof. Jefferson Tester Resource Grade and Distributions Performance Issues (Intermittency and Storage Needs) Environmental, Technical, and Land use Issues Economic Projections | Tester, et al. Chapter 13. |
| L27 | Solar Photovoltaics - Prof. Eli Sachs Conversion Devices PV Systems Environmental, Performance, Economic Attributes | |
| Part III: Energy End Use, Option Assessment, and Tradeoff Analysis | ||
| L28 | Eco-Buildings - Prof. Leon Glicksman U.S. and World-wide Indoor Air Quality Smart Buildings Infrastructure Integration | Tester, et al. Chapter 20. |
| L29 | Domestic Energy Efficiency Improvement Potential - Dr. E. C. Guyer | Tester, et al. Chapter 17. |
| L30 | Electric Industry Restructuring - Prof. Paul Joskow | |
| L31 | Future Road Transportation Options - Prof. John Heywood | Tester, et al. Chapter 18. |
| L32 | Energy Supply and Use in China and Morocco - Prof. Michael Golay | |
| R8 | Recitation: A Case Study - Prof. Jefferson Tester Energy Development in Low Income Rural Settings | |
| L33 | Sustainable Development Issues and Decision-Making Techniques - Dr. Elisabeth Drake | Tester, et al. Chapter 21. |
| L34 | U.S. Energy Policy and Options - Prof. Ernie Moniz | |
| L35 | Course Summary and Wrap-up - Prof. Michael Golay, Prof. Jefferson Tester, and Dr. Elisabeth Drake Student Feedback | Tester, et al. Chapter 22. |
Table of Contents
Study Materials
Readings
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Most assigned readings are from the course text:
Tester, J. W., E. M. Drake, M. W. Golay, M. J. Driscoll, and W. A. Peters. Sustainable Energy - Choosing Among Options. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2005. ISBN: 9780262201537.