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.

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.

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Research paper

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.

Research paper

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At the intersection of plants and nanomedicine perhaps lies a solution to current unsustainable agricultural practices and meeting increasing global food demands.

How medical models can transform agriculture

May 24

Energy & Environment

Toward improving rural mobility

Researchers designed and piloted the rural access mobility platform to improve rural mobility services that are inefficient, unaffordable, inaccessible, and unsustainable.

May 21

Energy & Environment

Democratizing air quality data at nearly no cost

Using existing filter tapes collected by U.S. embassies in Africa, mechanical engineering researchers have found a way to measure black carbon concentrations in fine particulate matter with only a reference card and their cell phones.

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May 9

Energy & Environment

Comfort vs. cash: energy behavior changes during COVID-19

The pandemic altered how individuals consumed energy in their homes, and in some areas the changes adversely affected energy poverty.

Apr 8

Energy & Environment

Doctoral researchers shine in 3MT championship

College of Engineering students explained complex research and its importance in under three minutes in the annual Three Minute Thesis competition.

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded 52 projects $750 million to dramatically reduce the cost of clean hydrogen and reinforce American leadership in the growing hydrogen industry.

Litster sub-awardee on $50M of new DOE hydrogen projects

Mar 19

Energy & Environment

Anticipating and reducing EV battery supply disruptions

A recent study analyzes the relationship between EV battery chemistry and supply chain vulnerability for four critical minerals across particular countries that are key contributors to production.

Mar 5

Energy & Environment

Enhancing aquifer systems

New knowledge of enhanced aquifer recharge—the replenishing of groundwater reserves with water from other sources—could provide water to communities affected by extreme heat and drought.

Feb 15

Energy & Environment

Shifting gears in the transition to electric vehicles

Electric vehicle emissions costs are anticpated to continue to decline through 2025, after which they will be affected by key factors such as the evolution of the power grid, battery technology, and public policy.

Feb 6

Energy & Environment

CMU partners to reimagine energy in the region

Faculty from Carnegie Mellon University will collaborate with West Virginia University and University of Pittsburgh on a National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines program.

Jan 23

Artificial Intelligence

Finding comfort through machine learning

A recent study leverages information provided by building occupants when answering multiple related questions about their thermal comfort to find the real “comfort zone” for most people in a building.