ENERGY RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS FOR A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE

Global energy systems have undergone numerous transitions over human history-from wood to coal, from animals to automobiles, from candles to electric lighting. Catalysts for these changes include discovery of new energy resources, new energy conversion technologies, and environmental benefits from less polluting and safer energy options.

Driven by ever-growing global energy demand, concerns about affordable and secure energy supplies, the need to reduce CO2 emissions, and the discovery of new energy conversion technologies, today we are beginning yet another transition: to a system relying more heavily on renewable energy resources.

Since 2002 the Global Climate & Energy Project (GCEP) at Stanford University has pioneered an academic-industry partnership to discover new technology options to expedite this global transition. Our current energy system supplies on-demand 24-7 electricity, high-energy-density transportation fuels, and high-quality energy resources for manufacturing. Looking to the future, we need an integrated suite of energy technologies and systems that efficiently and reliably provide high-quality, affordable energy to meet these needs. This talk will highlight the scientific research that seeks solutions to these challenges in the areas of solar photovoltaics, solar fuels, biofuels, batteries, H2 production and storage, carbon capture and storage, advanced combustion, and advanced communications/controls for the electric grid.

Dr. Benson is director of GCEP, a professor in the Stanford Department of Energy Resources Engineering, a ground water hydrologist, and a reservoir engineer. She received her BA in geology from Barnard College and her MS and PhD in material science and mineral engineering from the University of California. Formerly Dr. Benson worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.