Introduction to Sustainable Energy
Lectures and Readings
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LEC # |
INSTRUCTORS |
TOPICS |
SLIDES |
READINGS |
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Part I: Energy in context |
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1a |
Golay |
Introduction - Historical context (the post steam engine evolving growth of the developed countries, superimposed on the growing energy needs of the less-developed countries) - Energy sources for a more sustainable future |
Overview and administration (PDF) Energy uses in different countries(PDF - 9.4MB) |
Chapter 1 |
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1b |
Wright |
Overview of energy use and related issues - 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.); and economic considerations |
Chapter 9 |
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2 |
Ronald Prinn, MIT Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences |
"Climate Change: Science, Economics, and Policy." Global climate change issues and responses - 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? |
Sections 4.1-4.3 |
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3a |
Field |
Toolbox 1: Energy transfer and conversion methods - Energy sources and uses - Survey of conversion processes - Conversion efficiency and rate considerations - Conversion case study |
(PDF) |
Chapter 3 |
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3b |
Golay |
Drake, Elisabeth. "Energy and Sustainability Issues." 10.391J, January 2007. Sustainability, energy, and clean technologies in context - Frameworks for evaluation - Sustainability attributes - Time and space scales - Population and consumption growth - Tradeoffs and choices - Uncertainty |
(PDF) |
Sections 6.1, 6.4-6.6 |
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4a |
Wright |
Recitation 1: Discussion of sustainability issues - Energy footprints - Opportunities and barriers; timing issues - Drivers of change |
(PDF) |
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4b |
Golay |
Toolbox 2: Resource evaluation and depletion analyses - Present energy sources (fossil, nuclear, hydro) - Major energy alternatives (solar, geologic, ocean) - Resource base – uncertainties, grade/quality issues, resource vs. reserve estimates, economic evaluation frameworks - Other resource constraints that affect sustainability (esp. land, water, labor) |
(PDF) |
Chapter 2 |
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5a |
Field |
Toolbox 3: Energy conversion, transmission, and storage - 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 |
(PDF) |
Chapter 16 |
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5b |
Katherine Dykes, MIT Engineering Systems Division |
"Wind Power Fundamentals." (contributions from Alex Kalmikov and Kathy Araujo) |
Chapter 15 |
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6a |
Wright |
Toolbox 4: Systems analysis methodologies - Scoping analysis; simulation models; economic models; life cycle analysis; systems dynamic models; decision models - Selecting system boundaries |
(PDF) |
Section 6.2, 6.3 |
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6b |
Golay |
Toolbox 5: Energy supply, demand, and storage planning - Matching energy density of supply and demand - Temporal and geographical distributions - Energy transmission and distribution (pipelines, tankers, rail, power lines) - Role of energy storage; intermittency; influences of pricing during demand peaks and valleys |
(PDF) |
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7a |
Stephen Fairfax, MTechnology, Inc. |
"Changes in the Electric Power Sector." The electric power system and requirements for success |
Chapter 17 |
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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 |
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8a |
Wright |
Toolbox 6: Electrical systems dynamics |
(PDF) |
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8b |
Wright |
Toolbox 7: Economic feasibility assessment methods - Engineering, capital, and investment costs - Matching energy density of supply and demand - Temporal and geographical distributions - Energy transmission and distribution (pipelines, tankers, rail, power lines) - Role of energy storage; intermittency; influences of pricing during demand peaks and valleys |
(PDF) |
Chapter 5 |
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9a |
Field |
Toolbox 8: Thermodynamics and efficiency calculations - First and second laws - Availability - Power cycles and heat pumps - Topping and bottoming cycles |
(PDF) |
Chapter 3 |
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9b |
Robert Stavins, Harvard Kennedy School of Government |
"International Climate Change Policy: From Copenhagen to Cancún, and Beyond." Carbon limitation policy options - Cap and trade - Carbon tax - Command and control |
(PDF) |
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Part II: Specific Energy Technologies |
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10 |
Golay |
Nuclear energy I: Basics and current status |
Chapter 8 |
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11a |
Field |
Fossil energy I - Fuel conversion, power cycles, combined cycles - Advanced technologies |
(PDF) |
Chapter 15 |
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11b |
Green |
"The Dominant Piece of the Energy System: Fossil Fuels." Fossil energy II - Types and characteristics - Technologies - Associated economics and impacts - Fossil fuel switching (synfuels, LNG, carbon sequestration) |
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12a |
Craig Olmsted, Cape Wind |
Cape Wind energy and offshore wind projects |
none |
Chapter 7 |
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12b |
Ernest Moniz, MIT Physics / Engineering Systems Division |
Current energy policy |
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13a |
Ralph Gakenheimer, MIT Urban Studies and Planning |
"Transport Issues and the Environment in Latin America." Transportation in developing countries |
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13b |
Green |
Fossil energy III - Alternative transportation fuels - Emission performance improvements - Connections to new engine technology - Cleaner fuel |
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14a |
Ralph Izzo, PSEG |
Electricity generation options |
none |
Chapter 12 |
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14b |
Golay |
Nuclear energy II: Waste disposal and Yucca Mountain |
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15a |
Golay |
Nuclear energy III: Expansion of civilian nuclear power and proliferation |
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15b |
Wright |
Fusion as a future energy source? |
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16a |
Michael Fehler, MIT Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences |
Carbon management options |
none |
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16b |
Michael Fehler, MIT Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences |
Geothermal energy - Resources, types, magnitudes - Technical, environmental, societal, and economic issues - Drilling technologies - Subsurface reservoir systems - Heat and power conversion techniques |
none |
Chapter 11 |
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17 |
Vladimir Bulovic, MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science |
"Capturing Solar Energy." Solar photovoltaics and thermal energy |
none |
Chapter 10 |
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18 |
Hussein Abdelhalim, Mark Artz, et al. |
Recitation 2: Carbon limitation options / critique (student-led discussion) |
(PDF) |
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19a |
Green |
Biomass I: Resources and uses - Resource types and requirements - Technical and environmental issues - Utilization options - Economic projections |
(PDF) |
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19b |
Green |
Biomass II: Producing liquid fuels |
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Part III: Energy end use, option assessment, and tradeoff analysis |
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20a |
Don MacKenzie, MIT Engineering Systems Division |
"Automotive Technologies and Fuel Economy Policy." (contributions from Irene Berry) Transportation - Technology issues - Timescales for change |
Sections 18.4-18.6 |
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20b |
Addison Stark, MIT Mechanical Engineering |
Lifecycle analysis of biomass conversion - Land use issues (ecological stress, competition with food, water use, topsoil erosion, occupational hazards) - Net energy balance and energy integration opportunities |
(PDF) |
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21a |
Katherine Dykes, MIT Engineering Systems Division |
"Systems Dynamics & Sustainable Energy." Wind system dynamics, barriers to entry |
(PDF) |
Chapter 17 |
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21b |
Donald Sadoway, MIT Materials Science & Engineering |
"Electrochemical Approaches to Electrical Energy Storage." Electrochemical energy conversions - Fuel Cells - Batteries |
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22a |
Leon Glicksman, MIT Architecture / Mechanical Engineering |
"The Energy Crisis: A Neglected Solution." Sustainable buildings in developing countries |
Chapter 20 |
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22b |
Golay |
Toolbox 9: Probabilistic risk analysis |
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23 |
Edward Alfano, et al. |
Recitation 3: Current energy policy / critique (student-led discussion) |
(PDF) |
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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 |
(PDF) |
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24b |
Golay |
Hydropower |
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25a |
Robert Stoner, MIT Energy Initiative |
"Sustainable Energy: Options for Africa." Challenges and options for electricity systems in Sub-Saharan Africa |
Chapter 12 |
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25b |
Golay/all |
Course summary, panel discussion |
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Assignments and Exams
Homework
There are eight problem sets for this course. Undergraduate students should answer 2 out of 4 questions on each of the first five problem sets, and then answer all questions on the remaining problem sets. Graduate students should answer 3 out of 4 questions on each of the first five problem sets. The term paper takes the place of the other three problem sets for graduate students.
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ASSIGNMENTS |
PROBLEMS |
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Problem Set 1 |
(PDF) |
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Problem Set 2 |
(PDF) |
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Problem Set 3 |
(PDF) |
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Problem Set 4 |
(PDF) |
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Problem Set 5 |
(PDF) |
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Problem Set 6 |
(PDF) |
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Problem Set 7 |
(PDF) |
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Problem Set 8 |
(PDF) |
Exams
Undergraduates enrolled in Introduction to Sustainable Energy complete two take-home midterm exams and a final exam. The take-home exams are due at noon the day after they are issued.
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EXAMS |
PROBLEMS |
SOLUTIONS |
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Take-home exam 1 |
(PDF) |
(PDF) |
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Take-home exam 2 |
(PDF) |
(PDF) |
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Final exam |
(PDF) |
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