1. Research
  2. Environmental, Water Resources, and Coastal Engineering
  3. Energy Systems Analysis

Energy Systems Analysis

 

Former PhD student and postdoctoral research Samaneh Babaee discussing energy model results with Dr. DeCarolis.

Concerns over long-term sustainability, particularly as it relates to climate change, will require fundamental changes in the way that we supply and demand energy globally. Robust planning strategies will require the interdisciplinary assessment of technology and public policy aimed at balancing economic, environmental, and social considerations.

An individualized program in energy systems analysis trains students to conduct problem-driven analysis to yield new, policy-relevant insights that inform energy and environmental planning. A key feature of this program is the use of computer models to analyze how different energy technologies operate together in a linked system that is subject to dynamic changes in energy prices, end-use demands as well as technology cost and performance characteristics. Since energy system models are used to project energy technology deployment, emissions, and fuel commodity prices, the ability to characterize large future uncertainties is also critical.

Modeling energy systems also requires a broad and deep assessment of energy technology cost and performance, and as such, multidisciplinary engineering coursework is also beneficial. The curriculum includes courses drawn from engineering, economics, public policy and operations research. Specific course selections are based on student interests and the requirements of a given research project.

Suggested Core Courses

  • CE 537 Computer Methods and Applications
  • CE 578 Energy and Climate
  • CE 775 Modeling and Analysis of Environmental Systems
  • CE 796 Energy Modeling

Suggested Core Electives

  • CE 576 Engineering Principles of Air Pollution Control
  • CE 579 Principles of Air Quality Engineering
  • CE 772 Environmental Exposure and Risk Analysis
  • CE 791 High Performance Computer Modeling
  • ECG 515 Environmental and Resource Policy

Suggested Technical Electives

  • CE 776 Advanced Water Management Systems
  • CE 779 Advanced Air Quality
  • CE 791 Complex Adaptive Systems Analysis
  • CE 796 Environmental Life-Cycle Analysis
  • CE 796 Hydroclimatology
  • EC 436 Environmental Economics
  • ECE 550 Power System Operation and Control
  • ISE 510 Applied Engineering Economy
  • ISE 519 Database Applications in Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • ISE 712 Bayesian Decision Analysis for Engineers and Managers
  • ISE 731 Multi-Attribute Decision Analysis
  • OR 501 Introduction to Operations Research
  • OR 504 Introduction to Mathematical Programming
  • OR 505 Linear Programming
  • MAE 503 Advanced Power Plants
  • PA 511 Public Policy Analysis
  • PA 550 Environmental Policy

Faculty