Energy & environment

Our rapidly changing climate, the ever-evolving energy grid, regulations on emissions from power plants and vehicles—the complex challenges facing our environment and the energy systems that power our world require equally complex and sophisticated solutions. Our energy researchers believe these problems can only be solved using a highly interdisciplinary approach. Through the development of non-toxic batteries for energy storage, climate-resilient infrastructure systems, and policy innovations for the future of energy, we're combining civil, environmental, and energy engineering with public policy research to create holistic solutions that will bring the world into a brighter, more sustainable future.

May 2

Energy & Environment

Forever chemicals, made simple

Civil and environmental engineering researchers provide a roadmap to simplify PFAS destruction in water resources using heterogeneous catalysis, a more sustainable and cost-effective approach.

The Scott Institute for Energy Innovation and the Safety21 National University Transportation Center have produced a policy brief that offers safety recommendations as more people get behind the wheel of battery electric vehicles.

Promoting battery electric vehicle safety

Apr 2

Energy & Environment

CMU Energy Week tackles AI and energy

Over three days, investors, entrepreneurs, and researchers explored how AI and energy can complement each other.

Mar 26

Energy & Environment

A buzz-worthy engineering design course

Sophomore civil and environmental engineering project course teaches students the engineering design process by working with stakeholders to build habitats that protect local pollinator populations.

Mar 12

Energy & Environment

To ensure energy audits help climate goals, target emissions

Energy audits can be a useful tool for reducing industrial emissions, but new research co-led by Valerie Karplus found that clear climate-specific goals are a vital part of the equation.

Mar 7

Energy & Environment

What do popcorn and sustainable synthesis have in common?

Microwave synthesis produces MXene 25x faster than traditional methods while using 75% less energy, according to new research from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Feb 11

Artificial Intelligence

Slashing AI data center cooling cost, GPU/CPU power use

Novel thermal interface material cools chips better than existing state-of-the-art solutions.

Research paper

In an annual gathering at CMU, global decarbonization leaders worked toward tackling the challenge of decarbonizing steel production while meeting increasing world-wide demand.

Accelerating green steel

Jan 27

Energy & Environment

Mind the gap: Testing the EV charging network

Researchers develop a metric to measure the gaps in EV charging coverage across the country, revealing the significant work that lies ahead in deploying charging infrastructure.

Research paper

Jan 21

Energy & Environment

Dabo receives presidential early career award

Ismaila Dabo has received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on early career scientists and engineers.

Dec 30

Energy & Environment

Rounce receives early-career research fellowship

David Rounce was chosen for a research fellowship to study the effects of climate change and sea-level rise, and to develop coastal adaptation strategies in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dec 10

Energy & Environment

Domestic, circular supply chain for EV batteries

SeaLion Energy, a CMU-led startup, received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E to extend EV battery life and facilitate repair and reuse to reduce waste.

When faculty and students in the College of Engineering create intellectual property, our culture supports their efforts to form startups.

Engineering entrepreneurs find their way

Nov 1

Energy & Environment

Robotics for environmental innovation

A team of Carnegie Mellon University researchers is seeking to understand how robotics can help engineers address environmental challenges, such as monitoring affected soils.

Oct 25

Energy & Environment

Hubs: A step towards a hydrogen future?

Hydrogen is sometimes considered a secret ingredient in the recipe for a net-zero future. As a team of Carnegie Mellon researchers points out, hydrogen offers many advantages, but it’s not a panacea.

Oct 22

Artificial Intelligence

How CMU Portugal primes startups

CMU Portugal fosters entrepreneurship and the results continue to exceed expectations.

Oct 16

Cyberphysical Systems

Faculty members win DOE Early Career Program Awards

Carlee Joe-Wong and Thomas O’Connor win the Early Career Program Award from the Department of Energy Office of Science for their independent projects.

Oct 7

Energy & Environment

US industrial policy may strengthen EV battery supply chain

The Inflation Reduction Act offers incentives for diversifying the EV battery supply chain and reducing US dependence on China, but the potential impact of loopholes remains to be seen.