15.S05 Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Spring 2016
H1 Only - Spring 2016 Feb 2 - March 10; 6 credits - Sustainability Elective
Explores the future opportunities for energy management in a new era of intelligent buildings, grids, electric vehicles, finance innovations, as well as connected cities and people.
While now a $25 billion field, energy management is on the cusp of dramatic expansion and transition, as climate solutions require building energy (70% of all electric use) to dramatically reduce and as well, to modulate in a manner that stabilizes an electric grid increasingly powered by intermittent solar and wind energy.
Lead Instructor: Harvey Michaels hgm@mit.edu Lecturer and Research Faculty, Energy Strategy, MIT Sloan. Founder/CEO of two leading energy efficiency and smart grid companies providing analytics and engineering systems/services.
Instructor: Harvey G Michaels
Lecture: TR1-2.30 (E62-446)
Information:
This semester will focus on the opportunity for new business models, and as well how established companies interested in smart energy are approaching the market; including CISCO, Apple, Tesla; building-to-grid companies, such as EnerNOC and Schneider; smart energy companies such as Opower and Nest; and building energy management companies such as AMERESCO, Winn Development and Next Step Living. Topics:
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Grid Integration: As the year of the “Internet of Things”, we will explore how it relates to energy management and grid stabilization, from cloud-communicating wall thermostats to smart charging of electric vehicles. As well, we’ll consider the roles for building site solar, other DERs, and battery storage in the connected grid and microgrids.
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Analytics: Energy intelligence systems have opened new paradigms, including “no touch audits” , “hypertargeting”, “efficiency meters”, and “building avatars”. How do these work, what is the opportunity, and what remains to be done?
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Financing : Radical finance models allow rooftop solar to be installed with “no money down, guaranteed positive cash flow”, and the market response has been phenomenal. Can the same be done with energy management? What innovations are needed?
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Marketing : Web social networks and community-based marketing can galvanize action – how can we apply these to scale energy management to provide a large share of a climate change solution?
Announcements
March 1 and 3: Energy Management Innovation
As reminder, your final project PowerPoint presentations are due next (not this) Tuesday March 8; this is your elevator pitch of how to achieve more effective energy management at scale. Please read the assignment if you haven’t by this Tuesday. Remember that these short presentations are the beginning of the final project process; papers are due the following week (March 17).
This week, our discussion will support your path to energy management innovation: we’ll continue analytics/technology innovation Tuesday with more depth how these make energy efficiency more visible and actionable. Thursday we’ll discuss financing and marketing innovations, and some presentation ideas you might want to consider in developing your strategy.
Announced on 28 February 2016 6:44 p.m. by Harvey G Michaels
Feb 23 and 25: Innovation segment begins, Boston Microgrid session Tuesday 5:30
Tuesday’s class begins your foundation assignment presentations – please upload your paper and PowerPoint slide to Stellar by 9 AM that morning.
Our innovation discussion topics will include business innovation, cities, and microgrids, in addition to discussions that you will lead. Thursday will begin discussion of technology and analytic innovation. By Thursday, please choose readings in this category under stellar, according to your interests. But also read the introduction and conclusion sections of Key Trends Driving Change in the Electric Power Industry, and at least one chapter that seems interesting to you.
SPECIAL SESSION Tuesday in E62-450 – Informal time 5:30 – 6:00; formal session 6:00 – 7:00. Community Energy Innovations with guest Travis Sheehan, Energy Planner in charge of Boston’s Community Energy Study with focus on microgrids released last week, with modelling and analysis by the MIT Sustainable Design Lab. We will also discuss elements of the Boston Climate Action Plan related to buildings. See: https://microgridknowledge.com/potential-microgrid-sites/ If interested see also Stellar for Community Energy Innovations readings, including this study.
Announced on 22 February 2016 9:56 a.m. by Harvey G Michaels
Feb 16 Special time/place and Feb 18
NO REGULAR CLASS TUESDAY as MIT will have a Monday schedule that day. However, an optional special session will be held 5:00 to 6:30 Tuesday Feb 16 in room E62-346 on Buildings: Saving Energy - what works in home and building energy efficiency. If you can’t make it, if interested we can arrange appointments on Wednesday afternoon, or Thursday after class.
On Thursday Feb 18, please be prepared to verbally announce your foundation assignment topic choices; these are to be completed by February 23, 9 AM. Thursday’s class will address Market Barriers and Actors, with discussion the roles of business and government in today’s energy management ecosystem.
This week concludes our foundational overview. While there are no new assigned readings, please be up to date on assigned/ introductory selections: the Lovins paper in particular will lead off Thursday’s discussion. The remaining readings in foundational sections are optional; please review some of these to add depth where relevant to your interests and foundation/final projects.
Announced on 13 February 2016 11:22 a.m. by Harvey G Michaels
February 9 and 11: Foundational Topics of Intelligent Efficiency, Buildings and Climate
Please review slides from last week’s sessions – 1) Opportunities at the Crossroads of Buildings, Climate, and Grid; and 2) Role of Electric Utilities in Managing Demand - under Class Notes in Materials.
Our classroom E62-446 is available beginning at 12:30; I will be there at that time if you have anything you might want to discuss before we start at 1:00 - feel free to bring your lunch.
This week - on Tuesday we’ll explore Intelligent Efficiency including demand response and solar energy integration. Thursday’s topic is Buildings and Climate. In preparation, please complete the introductory readings, as well as those identified for Feb 4 and 9. The remaining readings in these sections are optional to add depth; explore those that you find interesting at your leisure over the next week.
Announced on 08 February 2016 11:35 a.m. by Harvey G Michaels
February 4 - Utilities and Introductions
Slides from our first session - Opportunities at the Crossroads of Buildings, Climate, and Grid – are on Stellar, under Class Notes in Materials. On Thursday, our foundational discussion will continue with a focus on utilities. We’ll also share more complete introductions, and as we discussed, your particular interests in dimensions of the emerging energy management opportunities: technology, analytics, financing, or marketing. A few readings are marked for February 4, and please continue progress on the introductory readings; and plan to complete by next Tuesday’s class.
Announced on 03 February 2016 5:16 p.m. by Harvey G Michaels
