Energy Transitions

Our research develops the analytical frameworks and deployment strategies needed to eliminate pollution from energy systems while maintaining reliability, affordability, and resilience in the face of extreme weather.

From Regional Priorities to Global Impact

Regional Decarbonization Pathways

  • We model how entire states and regions can eliminate energy sector pollution while maintaining economic growth and energy security, examining trade-offs between different technology deployment scenarios.

    • State-Level Energy Transition Modeling: Comprehensive analysis of technology deployment scenarios across different economic and policy conditions

    • Carbon Removal Integration: Understanding how negative emissions technologies fit into regional energy strategies

    • Land-Water-Energy Nexus: Assessing environmental co-benefits and trade-offs of different decarbonization pathways

    • Policy Scenario Analysis: Evaluating regulatory and economic mechanisms to accelerate clean energy deployment

    • Fauvel, C., Fuhrman, J., Ou, Y., Shobe, W., Doney, S., McJeon, H., & Clarens, A. (2023). Regional implications of carbon dioxide removal in meeting net zero targets for the United States. Environmental Research Letters, 18(9), 094019.

    • Fuhrman, J., Bergero, C., Weber, M., Monteith, S., Wang, F.M., Clarens, A.F., Doney, S.C., Shobe, W. and McJeon, H., (2023). Diverse carbon dioxide removal approaches could reduce impacts on the energy–water–land system. Nature Climate Change, pp.1-10.

Industrial Decarbonization

  • We analyze how energy-intensive industries can integrate with clean energy systems, examining pathways for industrial decarbonization that create economic opportunity rather than burden.

    • Chemical Industry Decarbonization: Integrated assessment of emission reduction pathways for petrochemicals and plastics manufacturing

    • Supercritical CO₂ Power Cycles: Evaluating advanced power generation technologies for grid flexibility and industrial applications

    • Industrial Heat Integration: Understanding how clean energy systems can meet high-temperature industrial process needs

    • Economic Transition Analysis: Assessing job creation and economic impacts of industrial decarbonization strategies

    • Fritzeen, W. E., O'Rourke, P. R., Fuhrman, J. G., Colosi, L. M., Yu, S., Shobe, W. M., ... & Clarens, A. F. (2023). Integrated Assessment of the Leading Paths to Mitigate CO2 Emissions from the Organic Chemical and Plastics Industry. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(49), 20571-20582.

    • Bennett, J. A., Fuhrman, J., Brown, T., Andrews, N., Fittro, R., & Clarens, A. F. (2019). Feasibility of Using sCO2 Turbines to Balance Load in Power Grids with a High Deployment of Solar Generation. Energy. 181, 548-560.

Energy Storage and Grid Resilience

  • Our research investigates large-scale energy storage solutions and grid integration strategies that enable high renewable energy deployment while maintaining system reliability during extreme weather events.

    • Compressed Air Energy Storage: Developing offshore storage systems in saline aquifers co-located with wind power

    • Grid Balancing with Renewables: Analyzing flexible energy storage operations that stabilize high renewable energy grids

    • Extreme Weather Resilience: Modeling energy system performance during hurricanes and other climate impacts

    • Techno-Economic Assessment: Evaluating costs and benefits of large-scale energy storage deployment

    • Bennett, J.A., Fitts, J.P. and Clarens, A.F., (2022). Compressed air energy storage capacity of offshore saline aquifers using isothermal cycling. Applied Energy, 325, p.119830.

    • Bennett, J. A., Simpson, J. G., Qin, C., Fittro, R., Koenig Jr, G. M., Clarens, A. F., & Loth, E. (2021). Techno-economic analysis of offshore isothermal compressed air energy storage in saline aquifers co-located with wind power. Applied Energy, 303, 117587.

    • Bennett, J. A., Trevisan, C. N., DeCarolis, J. F., Ortiz-García, C., Pérez-Lugo, M., Etienne, B. T., & Clarens, A. F. (2021). Extending energy system modelling to include extreme weather risks and application to hurricane events in Puerto Rico. Nature Energy, 6(3), 240-249.

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Carbon Management