sustainable energy systems focus area26 aug. 2008 – pg. 1 faculty environmental network bringing...

Sustainable Energy Systems Focus Area 26 Aug. 2008 – pg. 1

Faculty Environmental Network

Bringing Systems Concepts to Environmental Education

David Marks, CEE and ESD, MIT Portugal Program, MIT Cyprus Program, MIT Masdar Program

AGS


How Do We Teach About Context?How to educate about the life cycle and systems aspects of Environment and Energy?»Methods»Case Studies»Understanding Beyond the Boundries

•An example with PreFrosh two weeks ago: The design of wind turbines.


Questions Raised to the Students

•What is the Potential for Wind as a replacement for Fossil?•Where is it Windy? When? How does this match with demands? What happens when the wind stops blowing or blows too much?•How is Wind Scaled up? What infrastructure is needed for capture and storage? T Boone Pickens•What about Nimby? Banana?•What Kind of Energy does it replace?


Sustainable Energy SystemsOverview and StatusResearch and Education

Islands & CitiesStudents and Curriculum


Wind in Space and Time

Source: Mass Renewable Energy Trust TrueWind Solutions

ElectricityDemand

Generationfrom Wind


Where is it Windy?

•Trees and Hills, Matter!!!


Electricity in Space and Time

•Where is end-useefficiency most beneficial?

•Same question for…» Wind energy» Solar» Hydropower» Biomass» Ocean/Wave» Storage (incl. H2)

» Everything…Mainland Portugal Electricity Demand

(REN Data)


Higher Resolution / Better Design

• Mainland Portugal Electricity Demand 2007 (REN)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

(MW = MWh)

Hourly Electric Demand


Higher Resolution / Better Design

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

(MW = MWh)

• Mainland Portugal Electricity Demand 2007 (REN)


Why a “Green Island?”

• “Islands” represent excellent case studies withwhich to organize and demonstrate newmethodologies for the sustainable andeconomic transformation of infrastructures,including new challenges such as climatechange adaptation and energy security.

Why a “Green Azores?”• The Government of the Azores, its Energy Companies

and their partners, as well as the people of theAzores, are acutely aware of these challenges.

• They have been moving forward on all of these topics,

and see the MIT-Portugal Program as an opportunityto look longer-term at potential options that cantransform the islands’ energy infrastructure.


Design Scenario Options

• Energy Services» Household energy efficiency

options/supply curves» Similar service sector

efficiency options» Energy pricing and consumer

response» Sustainable building design

(new, retrofit)» Design for Açores economic

transformation» Public, private, & freight

transportation demandtrends and options

» Many, many, more

• Economic and socialtrends and theirinfluence of

strategyperformance &

design

• Energy Supplies» Assessing coupled renewable

resource dynamics (natural

variability, climate forcing/

adaptation)» Power grid expansion and

design, constraints andstorage opportunitiesincluding V2G and others

» Agriculture, wastes for sustainable biofuels andbroader options.

» Many, many, more

• Data challengesto characterizeoptions

sufficiently• Research infrastructure,

now and for thelong-term


Partnering for Green Islands

A Diverse Project Looking for Partners• Understanding the Islands’

Energy Needs and Supplies• Understanding energy in space and time• Developing a full understanding of local resources

• Developing New Ideas for FutureIslands’ Economic and EnergyNeeds and Options• Future electricity supplies, inlcuding energy storage• Exploring new transportation options,

including electricity• Looking at ways to reduce energy use, including innovations

in buildings and construction

• Partnering to Realize this New EnergyEconomy for the Azores

• Develop new innovative demonstration and pilot projects that put theseplans into practice

sustainable energy systems focus area26 aug. 2008 – pg. 1 faculty environmental network bringing...

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