Is it possible to power a country, city, or college campus with 100% renewable electricity? What combination of renewables, storage, and grid infrastructure could make this feasible? In this course, students learn how to analyze these types of energy questions using power system models and other modeling tools. This course focuses on the electricity sector, and students gain an understanding of how power plants, transmission lines, and other technologies work together to supply electricity. Students use accessible modeling tools to compare electricity systems under a variety of climate-focused policies, such as renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and clean energy standards (CES), learning how technical choices connect to policy outcomes. Along the way, students develop skills in system modeling, scenario analysis, and environmental policy evaluation – useful tools for careers in energy, environmental policy, and sustainability.
The centerpiece of the course is a project of your own choosing: a real proposal for a real thing. Project topics are flexible, and I encourage students to choose a topic they are excited about. A project could be designing and building a portable solar-and-battery system for outdoor concerts and events at Vassar, an analysis of a building or region you find interesting, a feasibility study for a large project you'd like to start, or even installing solar, wind, and storage at Vassar. Projects can take the form of feasibility studies, prototypes, analyses, or new policy proposals, and some have the potential to be built and tested during the semester. Students start project work early in the course and check in frequently for feedback, brainstorming, and guidance. No previous knowledge of energy or power systems is required. Students from the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences are welcome.
The centerpiece of the course is a project of your own choosing: a real proposal for a real thing. Project topics are flexible, and I encourage students to choose a topic they are excited about. A project could be designing and building a portable solar-and-battery system for outdoor concerts and events at Vassar, an analysis of a building or region you find interesting, a feasibility study for a large project you'd like to start, or even installing solar, wind, and storage at Vassar. Projects can take the form of feasibility studies, prototypes, analyses, or new policy proposals, and some have the potential to be built and tested during the semester. Students start project work early in the course and check in frequently for feedback, brainstorming, and guidance. No previous knowledge of energy or power systems is required. Students from the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences are welcome.
- Instructor: Michael Roth