Energy Systems

Energy sectors account for roughly two thirds (~64%) of total greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global warming. This includes everything from the fuels that powers our vehicles and heat our homes to commercial and industrial consumption of electricity and fossil fuels. Our researchers model various energy-production scenarios that would allow countries to decrease their carbon footprint while meeting goals for more sustainable growth and development. They also study the policies and incentives that govern decision-making around energy sectors, including the role of foreign investment in emerging markets.

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Pennsylvania policymakers underestimate public support for solar projects, survey says
Aug. 2, 2024
Author
Written by Colton Poore, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

Local elected officials surveyed in Pennsylvania underestimate their constituents’ support for solar and other clean energy projects, according to research published August 1 in Nature Energy.

In their findings, based on survey responses from 894…

A Clean Energy Transition is Possible for China’s Manufacturing Industry
June 21, 2023
Author
Written by Glen Chua and Keely Swan, Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment

The industrial sector – made up of businesses that support processing raw materials for manufacturing and consumer goods – is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and one that has proven difficult to decarbonize. In China, much of the industrial sector is organized into ‘parks’ that have been zoned as areas for concentrated…

UK Substantially Underestimates its Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Production – and Many Other Countries Probably Do Too
Jan. 26, 2023
Author
Written by Glen Chua and Keely Swan, Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, contributing about 1 degree Fahrenheit of present-day global warming relative to pre-industrial times. One major source of methane to the atmosphere is the extraction and transport of oil and gas. Countries are obligated to report their greenhouse gas emissions to…

COP27: Princeton Student Blog
Nov. 8, 2022
The 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) is taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from November 6-18, 2022. This year, Princeton is sending a delegation of graduate students, researchers, and faculty to attend the proceedings. 

At…

Linking Energy and Wastewater Infrastructure a Triple Win for Climate, Water, and Operating Costs
Nov. 3, 2022
Author
Written by Keely Swan, Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment

Coal-fired power plants are the second largest water user in China, requiring large volumes of freshwater for processing coal and cooling, and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, wastewater treatment plants generate millions of tons of sludge that must be disposed of and reclaimed water that can be reused for other…

As China Converts to Clean Energy, Households Should Consider Using Heat Pumps to Maximize Climate, Air Quality, Economic, and Health Benefits
Jan. 4, 2022
Author
Written by B. Rose Huber, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
Many of China’s households still rely on small coal stoves for heat, which causes air pollution that damages health. To address these problems, the Chinese government launched a five-year “Clean Heating Plan” in 2017 with the goal of transitioning 70% of northern households away from coal and toward cleaner heating options.

As the plan…

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