Search Results for: solar power

Analysis & Control (EMAC) Energy Modeling

The Energy Modeling, Analysis and Control (EMAC) group addresses the engineering and techno-economic challenges to decarbonizing electric power systems. Our work ranges from applied to theoretical. Much of our work focuses on building new control and optimization frameworks to facilitate the operation of low carbon grids.

Faculty by Primary Interest

Areas of Interest Climate Change ERG COREDavid AnthoffDavid Anthoff is an environmental economist who studies climate change and environmental policy. He co-develops the integrated assessment model FUND that is used ... Continue Reading »

Affiliated Faculty

ERG has a small core faculty but a much larger group of affiliated faculty. Affiliated faculty are based in other departments on campus or at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, ... Continue Reading »

ERG Research Shows Reliability of Independent Solar Power in Sub-Saharan Africa

October 18, 2018

Nature Energy recently published research by ERG PhD Student Jonathan Lee and Professor Duncan Callaway quantifying the cost of reliability for decentralized solar and battery systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. Their ... Continue Reading »

WA Solar Powered “Net-Zero Community” on Lopez Island

March 6, 2018

ERG alumni Chris and Chom Greacen explain the vision and execution that brought to life the Common Ground community on Lopez Island, WA. Read about the project’s origins and objectives, efficiency ... Continue Reading »

ERG Professor Callaway – Solar Power in Africa

April 3, 2017

ERG Professor Duncan Callaway comments on renewable energy in Africa, noting the advancements in solar technology in Crescent Vale News.

Solar Power Expansion Could Pose Ecological Risks

October 22, 2015

Post­doc­toral scholar, Rebecca Her­nan­dez, discusses her study on the ecological footprint of solar power development with Scientific American.

Noah Kittner and Dan Kammen Argue for Solar and Wind Over Hydropower in Nature Article

May 16, 2019

Recent ERG alum Noah Kittner (MS ’15, PhD ’18) and professor Dan Kammen, along with Stanford postdoc Rafael Schmitt and UC Berkeley professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Matt ... Continue Reading »

California could power itself three to five times over with solar

March 17, 2015

ERG postdoctoral fellow Hernandez with Hoffacker and Field from Stanford publish in Nature Climate Change.

Mileva ERG Alumni Deshmukh

September 12, 2018

ERG alumni Ranjit Deshmukh, Ana Mileva, and Grace Wu recently published their research on alternatives to the hydroelectric power Inga III Dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The ... Continue Reading »

Wind and Solar Energy Potential in The Democratic Republic of Congo – New ERG Study

October 2, 2017

Image: Renewable Riches: How Wind and Solar Could Power DRC and South Africa (2017) Ana Mileva, Ranjit Deshmukh, and Grace Wu discuss The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) position to harness ... Continue Reading »

ERG Graduate Students Deshmukh and Wu: Can Wind and Solar Fuel Africa’s Future?

November 4, 2016

ERG Graduate Students Ranjit Deshmukh and Grace Wu's research on renewable energy in Africa was highlighted in a news article in Nature.

ERG PhDs: Making Powering Africa a Reality

January 28, 2016

ERG PhD students Ranjit Deshmukh and Grace Wu share their research on Africa's leap toward clean and affordable energy with World Policy.

Proposed state fee would end solar savings

November 1, 2015

ERG professor Dan Kammen looks at impacts of proposed new CPUC rules.

but scientists say the work’s just begun. Obama’s Clean Power Plan is finally out

August 5, 2015

ERG Professor Daniel Kammen was featured in two magazine publications regarding Obama's Clean Power Plan and the impacts it might have on the U.S. population.

CAL-RAE to pilot solar solar microgrid design in rural Uganda

May 2, 2015

PhD candidate Jalel Sager, Austin Cappon (ERG minor) and Jonathon Lee to pilot solar microgrid design this spring

ERG Alum on the Executive Mansion’s Solar Installation

May 28, 2014

Watch White House scientists, including Dr. Cyrus Wadia (ERG MS'06, PhD'08), talk about the White House's shift toward renewables.

Earthweek Features ERG Professor Margaret Torn’s Lead Research on Net-Zero Emissions

March 23, 2021

ERG adjunct professor Margaret Torn was recently featured in Earthweek for her leading research in how the U.S can reach zero net emissions of carbon dioxide in 2050 by shifting energy infrastructure to operate mainly on renewable energy. “It means that by 2050 we need to build many gigawatts of wind and solar power plants, new transmission lines, a fleet of electric cars and light trucks, millions of heat pumps to replace conventional furnaces and water heaters, and more energy-efficient buildings,” Torn states.

Farbes ERG Alums Williams

February 3, 2021

A new article, "Carbon-neutral pathways for the United States," published in the open-access journal AGU Advances by ERG alums Jim Williams, Jamil Farbes, ERG alum and adjunct professor Margaret Torn, and others found that "reaching zero net emissions of carbon dioxide from energy and industry by 2050 can be accomplished.

Paper Authored by PhD Candidate Noah Kittner and Professor Dan Kammen Published in Nature Energy

August 16, 2017

Noah Kittner and Dan Kammen's new paper, "Energy stor­age deploy­ment and inno­va­tion for the clean energy tran­si­tion," was published in Nature Energy on July 31, 2017

ERG-led THIMBY Wins Categories in Tiny House Competition

October 25, 2016

The Tiny House in My Backyard (THIMBY) team won several categories in the 2016 Sacramento Municipal District Tiny House Competition.

ERG Alumni: Leaders at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

June 30, 2016

Two articles on the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory website featured the current work of ERG alumni Ryan Wiser (M.S. '96, Ph.D. '02) and Andrew Jones (M.S. '07, Ph.D. '12).

A unique moment in history for “sustainable energy for all”

March 26, 2015

ERG team study showing how off-grid power can improve equality in energy access published in Nature Climate Change. Interview with lead author Peter Alstone.

Climate Action Seed and Matching Grants to fuel the work of ERG Alumni and Faculty

August 31, 2023

The University of California awarded more than $80 million in state-funded grants to spur climate action this August through the Climate Action Seed and Matching Grant program. ERG alum Patricia ... Continue Reading »

Now is the Time to Start a Community Microgrid: ERG’s Dan Kammen on the Growing Accessibility of Renewable Energy

April 13, 2022

ERG’s Dan Kammen was featured in a recent Popular Science article discussing how more communities are beginning to generate their own power using renewable energy from microgrids. With the increased accessibility ... Continue Reading »

ERG Dan Kammen Addresses Texas’ Recent Electric Grid Failure

March 23, 2021

In a recent San Francisco Chronicle article, titled "Why the massive power outages in Texas are so much worse than California's summer blackouts," features ERG professor Dan Kammen discussing how such energy outages have highlighted a similarity between California and Texas. “What is so interesting here is that like in California — extreme weather (for us, fires) — has stressed an old, outdated and ‘not smart’ grid,” Kammen stated. “Without well-integrated solar, wind, AND energy storage our grids are vulnerable.”

On Science— Kammen Explores the Industrial Drivers of a Low-carbon Economy

September 24, 2019

In an recent article on Science, Kammen contributes insight on the possibilities of harnessing renewable energy through various techniques.

Misplaced Praise – How Kosovo Took a Step in the Wrong Direction

March 13, 2018

The U.S. government recently congratulated the government of Kosovo for signing a contract with American multi-national corporation Contour Global to build a new 500 MW coal-fired power plant. Kosovo highlights ... Continue Reading »

ERG PhD Lara Speaks at TEDx Pura Vida 2017

March 6, 2017

Last week, ERG PhD student José Daniel Lara spoke in Costa Rica at the TEDx Pura Vida 2017 event. Lara’s talk focused on the urgency for Costa Rica to integrate solar energy ... Continue Reading »

THIMBY House Project Is Well Underway!

June 28, 2016

The Tiny House in My Backyard (THIMBY) is an interdisciplinary team of UC Berkeley graduate and undergraduate students working together to design and build an affordable, off-grid, 100% solar-powered “tiny” ... Continue Reading »

ERG Alum Receives Microsoft Grant for Ugandan Micro-grid Systems

June 27, 2016

New Sun Road is a California technology company directed by ERGie Jalel Sager (MS’11 , PhD’15). They are committed to implementing solutions to climate change and global energy poverty, provide ... Continue Reading »

Sarawak May See the End of Mega Dams

July 1, 2015

As an alternative to the current Baram Dam project, Professor Daniel Kammen presented the benefits of using renewable energy instead of mega hydro-dams at a press conference held at Kuch­ing, Sarawak, East Malaysia.

NSF & More ERG Awards: Switzer Fellowships

May 14, 2015

3 current Switzer fellows, 2 more NSF fellows, and more. See the list of awards ERG students have received.