Securing our nation's energy supply is arguably the most important challenge we face. Our energy supply affects nearly every aspect of our lives, including our mobility, health, welfare, and economy. Presently, the U.S. depends heavily on foreign energy resources. For example, in 2005, nearly 60% of the crude oil consumed in the U.S. was imported; nearly one-quarter of this oil came from the Persian Gulf. With growing demands for energy from emerging economies, global climate change, and global political instabilities, we are faced with a critical need to reduce or eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels and develop a sustainable energy strategy. This course will explore the various options for sustainable energy systems via lectures, hands-on experiments and laboratory visits.

This project will draw upon technical, communication and teamwork skills developed during the course and culminate with a final, team-based design report. Specifically, students will work in teams of four or five to evaluate several energy technologies and then design a complete energy system for a home or business. This effort will include:

• Derivation of system energy balances
• Analysis of function of fuel cells and solar cells
• Determination of well-to-wheel efficiencies for several candidate power systems including fuel cells, solar cells and batteries
• Design of an energy system
• Presentation of findings and designs in written and oral reports

Grading
Most of the course grade will be based on individual performance, and the balance will be based on team performance. The following tools will be used to assess student performance:

• Homework sets
• Written reports (proposal, progress report(s), design report)
• Exams and quizzes
• Oral presentations