The global energy system is undergoing a
major transformation.

In response, researchers at MIT have developed SESAME, an online tool for evaluating the impacts of the global energy system.

A screenshot of the SESAME web application

The energy sector is transforming

One of the global community’s most significant contemporary challenges is the need to satisfy growing energy demand while simultaneously achieving very significant reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, delivery, and consumption of this energy.

The energy sector is transforming via the convergence of power, transportation, and industrial sectors and inter-sectoral integration. To assess the level of decarbonization achieved through this change, one needs to study the carbon footprint of the energy system as a whole.

A new tool for analysis

Sustainable Energy System Analysis Modelling Environment (SESAME) is a novel, system-scale energy analysis tool to assess the system-level greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of today’s changing energy system.

The underlying analytic tool constitutes more than a thousand individual energy pathways. SESAME, developed as a MATLAB application, provides a consistent platform to estimate life cycle GHG emissions of all stages of the energy sector. Furthermore, the system representation is embedded into the tool for power and transportation sectors.

A rapidly evolving system

In the midst of the rapidly evolving energy system, making informed decisions to properly shape this change requires understanding the system and associated trade-offs. All of the presented examples underline that GHG emissions are very sensitive to energy choices and a comprehensive systems-level analysis is essential for making informed decisions.

The SESAME platform is developed to address this pressing need and will continue to evolve to capture the emerging complexities.

Videos

Forecasting emissions impacts of the evolving energy system
Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) webinar

Understanding emissions impacts of the evolving energy system
MITEI Low-Carbon Energy Center webinar

Papers

"Hourly Power Grid Variations, Electric Vehicle Charging Patterns, and Operating Emissions." Environmental Science & Technology, 2020.

"Sustainable Energy System Analysis Modeling Environment: Analyzing Life Cycle Emissions of the Energy Transition." Applied Energy, 2020.

Insights Into Future Mobility – A report from the Mobility of the Future study. MIT Energy Initiative, 2019.

"A Framework for Multi-level Life Cycle Analysis of the Energy System." Computer Aided Process Engineering, 2019.

"Modeling Impacts of Tracking on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Photovoltaic Power." Computer Aided Process Engineering, 2019.

"Parametric modeling of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from photovoltaic power." Applied Energy, 2019.

"A general model for estimating emissions from integrated power generation and energy storage. Case study: Integration of solar photovoltaic power and wind power with batteries." Processes, 2018.

Conference talks

Multi-Level Life Cycle Analysis Tool for Sustainable Energy Systems Modeling, AIChE Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, 2019.

Modeling the Impact of Solar Tracking on Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Photovoltaic Power, AIChE Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, 2019.

SESAME: A Modular Technology Assessment Tool, Workshop on Analytical Frameworks for Assessment of National Energy Options, International Energy Agency Gas & Oil Technology Collaboration Program, Paris, France, 10/30/2019.

A Framework for Multi-level Life Cycle Analysis of the Energy System, ESCAPE 29, Eindhoven, Netherlands, 06/17/2019.

Modeling Impacts of Tracking on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Photovoltaic Power, ESCAPE 29, Eindhoven, Netherlands, 06/18/2019.

(Selected for spotlight presentations) Integrated Life Cycle Analysis and Multi-level Energy Systems Modeling, SETAC Europe 29th Annual Meeting, Helsinki, Finland, 05/29/2019.

The Hidden Emissions Impact of Operational Variability of Fossil Fuel Fired Power Plants, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2018, Washington, DC, 12/11/2018.