Making Good Energy Choices: The Role of Energy Systems Analysis

Driven by concerns about global warming, air pollution, and energy security, the world is beginning a century-long transition to a decarbonized energy system. Building blocks for decarbonization include dramatic efficiency improvements, renewable energy, electrification, nuclear power, natural gas as a substitute for coal, and carbon capture and storage. Given the long-term nature of the energy transition, the question becomes, how do we make good energy choices? Energy systems analysis can augment economic analysis and provide additional perspectives for answering questions such as:

Is storing renewable energy in batteries a good idea and which batteries are best?

How fast can the PV industry grow before it consumes more energy than it produces?

What's better, a battery electric vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle?

For new technologies, what aspects need to improve the most: efficiency, lifetime, materials, or cost?

This talk will provide examples of the important role energy systems analysis plays in revealing good energy choices.

Reception to follow.