Plenary Talk: Multi-Scale Life Cycle Optimization and Sustainability Analytics for Energy Systems

As evidenced by the recent Paris Agreement on climate change and the public’s increasing interests in carbon footprints, sustainability issues are becoming more prevalent in the thoughts and actions of many people around the world. Systems analysis and computational optimization methods from a life cycle perspective play an important role in the quest for sustainability. This talk will review recent advances in the area of life cycle optimization for sustainability optimization for energy systems. Applications to perovskite photovoltaics, shale gas and biofuels will be presented. The presentation will conclude with a brief review of multi-scale applications of these systems technologies and methods that range from molecular and materials systems, to unit operations and manufacturing processes, and to value chains and global ecosystems.