Energy and Environment Strategic Thrust Areas of Emphasis

This area of emphasis focuses on optimizing the use of conventional forms of energy from large scale grids, to building level systems, to point of use minimization of energy consumption.  It also includes energy conservation in terms of efficient propulsion and manufacturing systems.

Proposed work includes research focused on existing expertise in smart power grids and building energy efficiency. Future proposed work focuses on integrating available expertise within the College and University wide. Potential future projects involve the integration of climate change with future energy and infrastructure needs. Such integrated projects will require expertise from experts in the Resiliency and Sustainability thrust area plus colleagues at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and others in the life and social sciences. Our vision is to consolidate expertise within the University of Miami to develop a holistic plan to meet society’s future infrastructure needs while balancing the increasing demand for energy while preserving the environment.

Faculty team members in the area of Smart Energy Systems include:

• Area Lead: Nurcin Celik.
• Area Contributors: Esber Andiroglu, Daniel Berg, Emrah Celik, James Coakley, Hongtan Liu, Ramin Moghaddass, Giacomo Po, Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos, Michael Swain, Prannoy Suraneni, Matthew Trussoni, Gang Wang, Gecheng Zha

Green energy focuses on the development of alternative energy sources, sources other than conventional carbon-based fuel sources such as carbon, oil and natural gas.  This area of emphasis also includes the transformation and recovery of energy and the development of novel materials capable of optimizing energy storage.

This area of research is currently well suited for niche research that have the potential to grow and merge with other research focus areas. The niche areas of interest to faculty include wind energy in the context of understanding the computational fluid dynamics to improve energy transformation efficiencies, structural analysis needed to support large wind generation superstructures, and novel sustainable materials to improve the structural stability. More efficient transformation of energy from landfill gas and other fuel sources and the development of materials needed for improved battery systems to store energy represent additional niche areas. We envision the consolidation of these niche areas for the development of broader proposals that focus on alternative forms of energy which minimize the impacts of carbon-based technologies.

Faculty team members in the area of Green Energy, Energy Transformation, and Recovery include:

• Area Leads: Gecheng Zha, Xiangyang Zhou. 
• Area Contributors: Emrah Celik, Hongtan Liu, Michael Swain

This area of emphasis includes research that emphasizes an environmental matrix (water, air, or land) and the interfaces and interactions between these media. This area of emphasis also focuses on cross-cutting processes such as contaminant fate and transport, environmental exposures, pandemic mitigation, innovative process design, and novel materials that address solid waste disposal challenges. This area of focus includes considerable depth of research within engineering at the University’s marine campus in aerosol science and technology. Research in aerosol science is focused on understanding the formation, growth, transport and application of fine particulate matter systems to determine impacts on the Environment, Climate, and Human Health; and to utilize these processes to develop new materials to enable Energy, Environmental & Medical technologies.

Faculty team members in the area of Environmental Systems and Processes include:

• Area Leads: TBD
• Area Contributors: Jean Pierre Bardet, Pratim Biswas, Nurcin Celik, David Chin, James Englehardt, Derin Ural, Gecheng Zha