Energy Science at Caltech
Global Energy Usage By Type
Source: Statistical Review of World Energy, BP
The problems are obvious. The solutions are not. Learn how Caltech energy researchers and energy research centers are helping renewable energy technologies become a viable global energy supply.
While much progress has been made in developing renewable energy technologies, one major goal remains elusive: bringing these efforts to the terawatt scale necessary for sustainable energy to become a viable replacement for carbon-based energy sources such as oil, coal and gas, which are limited in supply, pollute the air and water, and contribute to global warming.
The global demand for energy is currently 16 terawatts. More than 80 percent of that energy is derived from the combustion of fossil fuels, which will eventually run out. Our dependence on fossil fuels is not politically or economically stable, as more than half of the world's petroleum reserves are in the Middle East. In addition, hundreds of years of burning fossil fuels have taken a toll. Levels of planet-warming atmospheric carbon dioxide are the highest in 15 million years. Mercury and sulfur dioxide pollute our air and water. And the global demand for energy is expected to increase to 20 terawatts by 2050.
Rate of World Energy Usage in Terawatts (TW)
1965-2005
Source: Statistical Review of World Energy, BP
The ability to meet this growing demand for power—while protecting the planet's resources—will require profound creativity, cutting-edge science, and new technologies that arise from a number of different fields. At Caltech, a crucible for new ideas, leaders in the fields of chemistry, applied physics, materials science, bioengineering, aeronautics, mechanical engineering and genetics are working together on new, innovative, and sometimes unlikely approaches to capturing, amplifying, storing and converting the planet's renewable energy supplies. The Resnick Institute gives Caltech a unique opportunity to leverage core competences in the areas of electrochemistry, biochemistry and materials, as developments in these areas converge to enable groundbreaking energy technologies.
These scientifically challenging projects—centered on finding better ways to capture and store energy from abundant, clean sources such as the sun, hydrogen and plant waste—are high-risk, but also high return. Scientists at Caltech, with a track record of solving difficult, multi-disciplinary scientific problems, are uniquely positioned to succeed.