Syllabus
Course Meeting Times
Lectures: 3 sessions / week, 1 hour / session
Recitations: 1 session / week, 1 hour / session
Overview
Assessment of current and potential future energy systems, covering resources, extraction, conversion, and end-use, with emphasis on meeting regional and global energy needs in the 21st century in a sustainable manner. Different renewable and conventional energy technologies will be presented and their attributes described within a framework that aids in evaluation and analysis of energy technology systems in the context of political, social, economic, and environmental goals. Open to graduate students and upper class undergraduates.
Textbook
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.
One-page overview of the textbook (PDF).
Course Lecture Structure
During the first few weeks of class, six Toolbox Lectures on fundamental topics will be interspersed with the regular class lectures.
Toolbox Lectures
| TOPIC # | TOPICS |
|---|---|
| 1 | Energy Resource Assessment |
| 2 | Energy Supply, Demand, and Storage Planning Methods |
| 3 | Economic Feasibility Assessment Methods |
| 4 | Systems Analysis Methodologies |
| 5 | Energy Transfer and Conversion Methods |
| 6 | Thermodynamics and Efficiency Analysis Methods |
Lectures
Part I: Energy in Context
| TOPIC # | TOPICS |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction |
| 2 | Overview of Energy Use and Related Issues |
| 3 | Sustainability, Energy, and Clean Technologies in Context |
| 4 | Resource Evaluation and Depletion Analysis |
| 5 | Global Change and Response Issues |
| 6 | International Efforts to Abate Global Changes |
| 7 | Regional Air Pollution |
| 8 | Overview of Energy Supply Portfolio |
| 9 | Criteria for Assessing the Sustainability of Energy Technologies |
Part II: Specific Energy Technologies
| TOPIC # | TOPICS |
|---|---|
| 10 | Geothermal Energy |
| 11 | Hydropower |
| 12 | Nuclear Waste Disposal |
| 13 | Electrochemical Energy Storage |
| 14 | Fuel Cell and Distributed Energy Programs in Industry |
| 15 | Biomass Energy |
| 16 | Biomass Conversion to Liquid Fuels |
| 17 | Nuclear Energy I: Present Technologies |
| 18 | Nuclear Energy II: Future Technologies and the Fuel Cycle |
| 19 | Fossil Energy I: Types and Characteristics. Decarbonization |
| 20 | Fossil Energy II: Conversion, Power Cycles |
| 21 | Fusion Energy Technologies |
| 22 | Wind Power |
| 23 | Cape Wind and Other Wind Projects |
| 24 | Solar Thermal Energy |
| 25 | Solar Photovoltaic Energy |
Part III: Energy End Use, Option Assessment, and Tradeoff Analysis
| TOPIC # | TOPICS |
|---|---|
| 26 | Eco-buildings |
| 27 | Domestic Energy Efficiency Improvement |
| 28 | Electric Industry Restructuring |
| 29 | Future Road Transport Options |
| 30 | Energy Supply and Use in China and India |
| 31 | Sustainable Development Issues and Decision-making Techniques |
| 32 | US Energy Policy and Options |
Assignments
Homework
One problem set per week on average. Early problem sets focus on analytical skills; later problem sets are more comprehensive and integrating.
Papers
One written term paper (20-30 pages) with interim progress report and final oral presentation.
Grading
| ACTIVITIES | PERCENTAGES |
|---|---|
| Homework | 25% |
| In-class Participation | 10% |
| Mid-term Exam | 25% |
| Term Paper (25% for Written Paper and 15% for Oral Presentation) | 40% |
