| 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 |