MIT Energy Initiative

Georgia Perakis, the William F. Pounds Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management

Georgia Perakis: On the road to better energy data

MIT professor uses operations research and optimization modeling to investigate topics from traffic flows to subsidies for green energy technologies.

January 27, 2016

This GridForm model of a village in Bihar, India, shows the optimal layout of hardware for the load profiles of the community. Each building, color-coded by the cost (in Indian rupees) of supplying electricity to that structure, is wired to a central generation/storage node (solid lines), and the nodes are connected to each other (dotted lines).

Going off grid: Tata researchers tackle rural electrification

At MIT’s Tata Center for Technology and Design, researchers are exploring ways to extend electricity access to rural communities in India using microgrids.

January 21, 2016

Governments usually provide subsidies based on overall adoption targets, such as the number of cars or solar panels they would like to see purchased over a period of time. But green technologies are often new products, and no one really knows how many consumers are waiting to buy them.

Sensible subsidies

Study: How should backing for clean technology be designed?

January 21, 2016

Donald Sadoway (right) of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, David Bradwell MEng ’06, PhD ’11, and their collaborators have developed a novel molten-metal battery that is low-cost, high-capacity, efficient, long-lasting, and easy to manufacture — characteristics that make it ideal for storing electricity on power grids today and in the future.

A battery made of molten metals

New battery may offer low-cost, long-lasting storage for the grid.

January 12, 2016

A donkey grazes in a pasture near solar panels at Sanctuary Dairy Farm Ice Cream in Sunapee, New Hampshire.

Concentrating dawn-to-dusk solar energy

MOSAIC award spurs MIT research into concentrator solar cells that can run in shade and full sun with power control and wavelength separation.

January 11, 2016

Preparing for large-scale solar deployment

Researchers are examining measures to ensure a reliable future power system.

December 30, 2015

MITEI names co-chairs of Energy Education Task Force

Professors Hager and Ram are the new co-chairs of MITEI’s Energy Education Task Force and the Energy Minor Oversight Committee.

December 18, 2015

At the 2015 Paris climate talks, MIT faculty, students, staff, and alumni have been observing negotiations and participating in side events. A few of those participating: (l-r) MIT researcher and Climate Interactive director Travis Franck; PhD student Michael Davidson; MIT Center for Collective Intelligence/Climate CoLab Director Thomas Malone; MIT Climate CoLab project manager Laur Fisher; alumna...

Sharing climate research and strategies in Paris

MIT events throughout climate talks underscore Institute’s global perspectives and partnerships.

December 11, 2015

The Four Undergrads team was first-place winner of the MIT Energy Hackathon.

Reducing waste and inefficiency, while increasing access and profits, propels MIT Energy Hackathon

Eight real-world industry challenges fuel teams’ competitive spirit and impressive results.

December 11, 2015

Thango, of South Africa, participates in a "World Climate" simulation, developed by MIT and Climate Interactive.

Climate negotiation role-play in Paris feels like the real thing

"World Climate" simulation, developed by MIT and Climate Interactive, challenges perceptions about climate negotiations and countries’ development needs.

December 7, 2015

The "Clean Energy Technology Frontiers" panel at the C3E Women in Clean Energy Symposium.

Clean energy connections and innovation

At C3E Symposium, industry-leading women share transformative research on policies, technologies, and diversity in energy sector.

December 4, 2015

Joseff Kolman: An MIT undergrad at the Paris climate talks

A passion for climate policy leads to an opportunity to attend the United Nations climate change conference, where countries look to forge new solutions.

December 1, 2015

Plan takes shape for MIT sustainability

Preliminary plan sets priorities for sustainable buildings, stormwater and land management, materials, and greener labs.

November 30, 2015

Energy UROP student Jessie Hsiao (left), who is studying chemical engineering, and graduate student advisor Steven Brown research CO2 electrocatalytic reduction

Energy UROP: The intersection of research experience and real-world solutions

Students gain hands-on experience over the summer with MITEI's Energy Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

November 24, 2015