(3ce) Towards a Sustainable Energy Future In the 21st Century and Beyond: Modeling, Design, Control and Optimization of Energy Systems

The need for sustainable energy has never been more than what it is now and is growing year-after-year. While the role of each of the emerging clean and green technologies (such as carbon capture/storage, hydrogen fuel cell cars, biofuels, gasification-based processes, renewables and zero-carbon communities) varies geographically and with time, it is important that all these technologies are developed synergistically and utilized up to their fullest potential. However, cost competitiveness, energy efficiency, environmental performance and reliability of these technologies are yet to be improved significantly. To achieve these, holistic life-cycle analyses on economics, efficiency and emissions are needed during both the design and operational stages. Furthermore, in order to reap the benefits to the maximum extent possible, innovation at and tight-integration amongst multiple length- and time-scales is required thus calling for a multi-scale modeling approaches.

Motivated by these and based on my extensive research experiences in relation to all the aforementioned aspects of energy systems engineering (ESE, including modeling, design, control and optimization of various systems ranging from a particle/molecule to devices to processes to networks), in my future research career, I would like to focus on developing and applying generic/tailor-made methods and tools to foster innovative development and accelerate deployment of clean and green energy technologies. To be specific, my short/medium term focus will be on the following Themes (T): 

T1 - Hydrogen and biofuels driven transportation (technologies and infrastructure)

T2 - Carbon capture, transport and sequestration (technologies and infrastructure)

T3 - Clean coal technologies based on gasification (inc. integrated gasification combined cycle)

T4 - Renewable energy sources (including biomass, solar and wind)

T5 - Energy systems of the future (urban energy systems, rural electrification, zero-carbon homes)

T6 - Water and healthcare infrastructures and technologies