Course Description
Exploration of energy sources and technologies with an emphasis on environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Examines renewable and low-impact energy systems, energy efficiency, and strategies for reducing carbon emissions. Evaluates solutions for meeting global energy demands while minimizing ecological and societal impacts.
Athena Title
Sustainable Energy Solutions
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- Students will understand the geological, scientific, and technological foundations of sustainable energy systems and evaluate their role in addressing global energy resource challenges.
- Students will analyze the geological factors that influence energy production, distribution, and long-term resource availability.
- Students will critically assess competing energy solutions by examining their geologic constraints, environmental impacts, and feasibility from an Earth-systems perspective.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate geoscience-based findings on energy systems clearly to diverse audiences, emphasizing geologic processes and implications.
- Students will integrate geological knowledge with quantitative data to propose scientifically supported strategies for meeting energy needs at local, national, and global scales.
Topical Outline
- Introduction to Sustainable Energy
Overview of global energy challenges; geological foundations of energy resources, Earth materials, and Earth-system constraints.
Energy Demand and Global Challenges
Examination of global energy consumption patterns, resource distribution, and geologic controls on long-term availability.
Fossil Fuels and Transition Pathways
Geological formation, characterization, and extraction of fossil fuels; geological considerations in transitioning toward alternative energy sources.
Renewable Energy Technologies
Geological and geophysical principles underlying solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass systems; site selection and resource assessment from a geologic perspective.
Nuclear Energy
Geological aspects of uranium and thorium resources, fuel cycles, waste isolation, and the role of the subsurface in nuclear energy systems.
Energy Storage and Smart Grids
Geological controls on materials for energy storage (e.g., lithium, rare earth elements); subsurface storage of energy (hydrogen, compressed air) and geologic stability considerations.
Life Cycle Analysis of Energy Systems
Evaluation of environmental and geologic impacts across the full life cycle of major energy technologies, including land use, mineral demand, and subsurface effects.
Climate Change and Energy Systems
Geological and Earth-system processes relevant to climate–energy interactions, including carbon cycling, carbon sequestration, and impacts on resource availability.
Geoscience of Energy Access and Distribution
Study of how geological settings influence access to energy resources, infrastructure siting, and regional energy potential.
Case Studies in Sustainable Energy
Geological analysis of energy solutions at multiple scales, including geothermal developments, carbon storage projects, and renewable energy siting.
Advanced Topics in Geologic Energy Systems
Subsurface characterization, reservoir modeling, mineral resources for clean energy technologies, and emerging geologic methods in energy science.
Policy and Regulation
Overview of how geological assessments inform energy policy, land use decisions, and resource management.
Communicating Energy Solutions
Practice in presenting geoscience-based interpretations of energy systems, uncertainties, models, and resource assessments.
Student-Led Technical Presentations on Energy Systems
Student presentations focused on geological evaluation of sustainable energy solutions and Earth-system constraints.
