Calendar

The calendar below provides information on the course's lecture (L), toolbox lecture (TBL), and recitation (R) sessions. Each calendar session lasts one hour, or half of each two-hour class meeting.

Course schedule.
SES #	TOPICS	KEY DATES
Part I: Energy in Context
L1	Introduction: Subject Overview and Administration - Prof. Michael Golay Historical Context Energy Sources for a More Sustainable Future Sustainable Energy Text	Distribution of Student Information System (SIS) forms
L2	Overview of Energy Use and Related Issues - Prof. Michael Golay 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.) Economic Considerations
TBL1	Energy Resource Assessment - Prof. Michael Golay Major Energy Options (Solar, Geologic, Ocean) Resource Base - Uncertainties, Grade/Quality Issues, Resource vs. Reserve Estimates, Economic Evaluation Frameworks Energy Transmission and Distribution (Pipelines, Tankers, Rail, Power Lines)
L3	Sustainability, Energy, and Clean Technologies in Context - Dr. Elisabeth Drake Issues: Frameworks for Evaluation Sustainability Attributes Time an Space Scales Population and Consumption Growth, Tradeoffs and Choices Uncertainty
TBL2	Energy Supply, Demand, and Storage Planning Methods - Prof. Michael Golay Matching Energy Density of Supply and Demand Temporal and Geographical Distributions Role of Energy Storage Intermittency Influences of Pricing During Demand Peaks and Valleys	Return SIS forms
L4	Resource Evaluation and Depletion Analysis - Prof. Michael Golay
R1	Discussion of Sustainability Issues - Dr. Elisabeth Drake Technical Feasibility Opportunities and Barriers Timing Issues Drivers of Change?	Distribution of term paper information and forms Assignment 1 due
TBL3	Economic Feasibility Assessment Methods - Prof. Michael Golay Engineering, Capital, and Investment Costs Fuel Costs Life Cycle Costs Environmental Externalities (Emissions, Wastes, etc.) Uncertainties
L5	Global Change Issues and Responses - Prof. Peter Stone 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?
L6	International Efforts to Abate Global Change - Prof. Henry Jacoby
R2	Further Discussion on Term Paper Requirements and Topic Assignments - Dr. Elisabeth Drake	Assignment 2 due
L7	Regional Air Pollution - Prof. Greg McRae
TBL4	Systems Analysis Methodologies - Dr. Elisabeth Drake Scoping Analysis Simulation Models Economic Models Life Cycle Analysis Systems Dynamic Models Decision Models Selecting System Boundaries	Term paper topic selection forms due
R3	Discussion on Energy Resources and Depletion - Dr. Elisabeth Drake
L8	Overview of Energy Supply Portfolio - Prof. Jefferson Tester Criteria for Evaluating Energy Technologies Solar Based: Thermal; PV; Wind; Biomass; etc. Earth Based: Fossil; Nuclear; Hydro; Geothermal; etc. Ocean Based and Others
TBL5	Energy Transfer and Conversion Methods - Prof. Jefferson Tester Physical Properties (Density, Heat Capacity, Latent Heat, ...) Chemical Reactions and Kinetics - Fossil and Biomass Fuel Time-scales Transport Phenomena and Rates Energy Storage Modes Electrochemical Conversions
L9	Energy Conversion, Transmission, and Storage - Prof. Jefferson Tester 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	Term paper selection forms returned with comments Assignment 3 due
TBL6	Thermodynamics and Efficiency Analysis Methods - Prof. Jefferson Tester First and Second Laws Availability Power Cycles and Heat Pumps Topping and Bottoming Cycles
Part II: Specific Energy Technologies
L10	Geothermal Energy - Prof. Jefferson Tester Resources, Types, Magnitudes Technical, Environmental, Societal, and Economic Issues Drilling Technologies Subsurface Reservoir Systems Heat and Power Conversion Technologies Future Opportunities
L11	Hydropower - Prof. Jefferson Tester Technical Issues (Hydraulic Head, Turbines, etc.) Reliability and Growth Potential Water Management (Inundation, Leaching, Fish Impacts, Irrigation, Waste Management, etc.) Life Cycle Aspects and Economics
L12-L13	Joint Video-link Class with Cambridge University - U.S. and British Energy Policies and Issues - Prof. Nuttall and Prof. Michael Golay	Term papers outline due Assignment 4 due
L14	Nuclear Waste Disposal - Prof. Andrew Kadak
R4	Problem Session: Economics, Energy Conversion, Systems Analysis - Prof. Michael Golay
	Midterm Exam - 2 Hour Exam (Open Book, Class Notes and Calculator Permitted)
L15	Electrochemical Energy Storage: Batteries and Fuel Cells - Prof. Donald Sadoway
L16	Fuel Cell and Distributed Energy Programs in Industry - Dr. Javit Drake, Gillette Technical Center
R5	Review of Mid-Term Exam	Assignment 5 due
L17	Biomass Energy - Prof. Jefferson Tester Resource Types and Requirements Technical and Environmental Issues Land use (Ecological Stress, Competition with Food, Water use, Topsoil Erosion, Occupational Hazards) Utilization Options Economic Projections
L18	Biomass Conversion to Liquid Fuels - Prof. Jefferson Tester
R6	Biomass Conversion Discussion - Prof. Jefferson Tester with input from Michael Rabb, Jeremy Johnson, and Dr. Morgan Fröling LCA and New Genetic Engineering Approaches
L19	Nuclear Energy I: Present Technologies - Prof. Michael Golay	Assignment 6 due
L20	Nuclear Energy II: Future Technologies and the Fuel Cycle - Prof. Michael Golay
L21	Fossil Energy I - Prof. Ahmed Ghoniem Types and Characteristics Technologies Associated Economics and Impacts Fossil Fuel Switching (Syn Fuels, LNG, Carbon Sequestration)
L22	Fossil Energy II - Prof. Ahmed Ghoniem Fuel Conversion, Power Cycles, Combined Cycles Advanced Technologies
L23	Fusion Energy Technologies - Prof. Jeff Friedberg	Assignment 7 due
R7	Problem Session on Energy System Analysis - Prof. Michael Golay
L24	Wind Power - Dr. Robert W. Thresher, NREL
L25	Cape Wind Energy and Offshore Wind Projects - Mr. Jim Gordon, President of Cape Wind, Inc.
L26	Solar Thermal Energy - Prof. Jefferson Tester Resource Grade and Distributions Performance Issues (Intermittency and Storage Needs) Environmental, Technical, and Land use Issues Economic Projections
L27	Solar Photovoltaics - Prof. Eli Sachs Conversion Devices PV Systems Environmental, Performance, Economic Attributes
Part III: Energy End Use, Option Assessment, and Tradeoff Analysis
L28	Eco-Buildings - Prof. Leon Glicksman U.S. and World-wide Indoor Air Quality Smart Buildings Infrastructure Integration
L29	Domestic Energy Efficiency Improvement Potential - Dr. E. C. Guyer
L30	Electric Industry Restructuring - Prof. Paul Joskow	Term papers due
L31	Future Road Transportation Options - Prof. John Heywood
L32	Energy Supply and Use in China and Morocco - Prof. Michael Golay
R8	Recitation: A Case Study - Prof. Jefferson Tester Energy Development in Low Income Rural Settings
L33	Sustainable Development Issues and Decision-Making Techniques - Dr. Elisabeth Drake
L34	U.S. Energy Policy and Options - Prof. Ernie Moniz
L35	Course Summary and Wrap-up - Prof. Michael Golay, Prof. Jefferson Tester, and Dr. Elisabeth Drake Student Feedback

Final exam week - Scheduled individual oral presentations (20 minutes + 10 minute question period) on individual term paper topic.