Sustainable Energy

Topics

• Introduction
• Overview of energy use and related issues
• Toolbox 1: Energy transfer and conversion methods
• Recitation 1: Discussion of sustainability issues
• Toolbox 2: Resource evaluation and depletion analyses
• Toolbox 3: Energy conversion, transmission, and storage
• “Wind power fundamentals.” (contributions from Alex Kalmikov & Kathy Araujo)
• Toolbox 4: Systems analysis methodologies
• Toolbox 5: Energy supply, demand, and storage planning
• Toolbox 6: Electrical systems dynamics
• Toolbox 7: Economic feasibility assessment methods
• Toolbox 8: Thermodynamics and efficiency calculations
• Nuclear energy I: Basics and current status
• Fossil energy I
• Cape Wind energy and offshore wind projects
• Current energy policy
• Fossil energy III
• Electricity generation options
• Nuclear energy II: Waste disposal and Yucca Mountain
• Nuclear energy III: Expansion of civilian nuclear power and proliferation
• Fusion as a future energy source?
• Carbon management options
• Geothermal energy
• Recitation 2: Carbon limitation options / critique (student-led discussion)
• Biomass I: Resources and uses
• Biomass II: Producing liquid fuels
• Lifecycle analysis of biomass conversion
• Toolbox 9: Probabilistic risk analysis
• Recitation 3: Current energy policy / critique (student-led discussion)
• Hydropower
• Course summary, panel discussion