which engineering degree for alternative energy research?

4 Comments

1. Piglet O says:

   November 16, 2009 at 6:57 pm

   I would suggest chemical. The main limit on alternative fuels is the storage of power. Wind, solar, etc all generate when the planet decides, irregardless of when people need power. The way to store and use that energy is in batteries. But batteries have issues, from poor efficiency to high cost. Battery development is probably the single most important step in implementing alternative fuels.
2. bobmalcomb says:

   November 16, 2009 at 6:57 pm

   mechanical engineering for windmills, chemical engineering for chem processes
3. dougmctx says:

   November 16, 2009 at 6:57 pm

   Most engineering degrees would be helpful in some way.

   Chemical Engineering could help you design new batteries, or fuel cells, etc. A big problem with alternative energy source is storing the energy, and often this is done via chemical reactions. Storing energy is a HUGE issue with alternative energy sources, so I’d say this would be an excellent choice.
   Civil Engineering helps you build the infrastructure needed to produce and move your alternative energy around.
   Electrical Engineering helps you design electrical things that produce and use your alternative energy.
   Mechanical Engineering could help you design some sort of new energy-producing hydroelectric dam. Or extract energy from sea waves.
   Aerospace Engineering could help you design some more efficient windmills, or turbines for that hydroelectric dam.
   Software Engineering would help you design the software that controls your alternative energy devices.
   Financial Engineering would help get alternative energy funding.
   Social Engineering could help convince people to ride their bikes rather than drive, therefore reducing the energy we need.
   Biological Engineering could help make bicycles more comfortable to ride, helping people to ride them more.
   Military Engineering could help us crush those who would oppose our new alternative energy sources.

   etc.

   Even petroleum engineering could be of some assistance — even if we’re not burning the oil anymore, all these fancy new alternative energy forms probably need lubricants, for example Petroleum engineers also tend to know geology very well, and so they could help with finding geothermal power sources.

   My advice? Pick what you’re interested in. If you also want to work on alternative energy, most engineering degrees will help you do so.

   And no, propulsion engineering is not totally unrelated. If you improve the propulsion of something and make it more efficient, then it needs less energy — which is even better than making more energy. And if you make a more efficient propeller, then you can use that to propel an airplane — or you could use it in a windmill or hydroelectric dam turbine. (Though propellers are usually customized for their final use.)
4. John R says:

   November 16, 2009 at 6:57 pm

   Chemical engineering, with as much flexibility as practical to add focus courses on specific fuel(s) of interest. That was my undergraduate major and I added some environmental courses too. However, most 4 year programs have very few electives and the core courses have heavy work & lab loads.