1. New Course! Energy for the 21st century New Course!
ECE 590, Mondays 12:30 to 2:30 pm, Computer Studies Building Room credits; Instructor: Prof. P.M. Fauchet
Figure reprinted from the MRS Bulletin April 2008

2. Energy for the 21st century
ECE 590
This 2-credit course aims at providing a succinct, yet complete and critical introduction to the different means of producing energy. The increasing demand for power generation is starting to outstrip the known sources of fossil fuels. In addition, the use of fossil fuels is widely believed to be a major contributor to global warming. Alternative sources of energy that do not produce as much greenhouse gases and/or are renewable are still mostly in the research phase. Students from all engineering and science disciplines need to be educated in the field of energy production so that they can contribute to the international discussion and conduct research that may provide solutions to specific problems in the generation, transport, and use of energy. The lectures will be at a level that is appropriate for graduate students from all engineering and science disciplines. Well-qualified seniors may take the course with the instructor’s permission.
Topics covered by this course include:
1. fossil fuels: oil, gas, coal
2. other sources: nuclear, hydroelectricity, wind
3. new sources of renewable energy: solar (thermal, photovoltaic), biomass/biofuels
4. longer-term energy sources: fusion
5. energy transport: hydrogen generation, fuel cells
6. economic aspects of the evolving energy production and utilization landscape
Instructor: Prof. Philippe Fauchet
Classes are held from 12:30 to 2:30pm in Computer Studies Building Room 523