About
Welcome from the Chair
Welcome to the Department of Energy Science and Engineering (ESE) in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability (SDSS).
The ESE department is a leader in research and teaching on energy topics. We are working to transform the global energy system to one that is low-carbon, clean, accessible, and sustainable. We combine theory, experiments, and computations to address a wide range of areas that include energy supply, resource production, materials, storage, and use.
The ESE department has an exceptional group of faculty. Our research covers many aspects of subsurface engineering, including conventional and unconventional resource production, geothermal reservoirs, and geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide. The synthesis, production, and storage of hydrogen is another important focus areas. We also study battery design and control, develop methods for monitoring and reducing anthropogenic methane emissions, model and optimize energy systems at different scales, and perform life-cycle analysis of energy technologies.
ESE has 20 faculty members, with about half holding joint appointments with other departments on campus. The Department enjoys strong relationships with leading research organizations and the global energy industry. Many of our alumni hold leadership positions in industry and academia.
Hamdi Tchelepi
Max Steineke Professor
Chair, Department of Energy Science and Engineering
SDSS Doerr School of Sustainability
Where is ESE Today?
We pursue research and educational excellence as we train the next generation of leaders, scholars, scientists and engineers committed to addressing the challenges of developing fundamental and applied knowledge in energy resources; schemes for control and optimization of energy resources; the development of energy production, conversion and storage technologies; modeling, control and optimization of the complex interactions of energy systems with the environment; and economic and policy frameworks for advancing energy goals.
Activities in the department are broadly grouped into sustainable energy resources and supply, energy systems and policy, and energy storage. We help our graduate students acquire the needed skill set to excel at fundamental and applied research in energy. We prepare undergraduates for success in an evolving energy landscape with strong science and problem-solving skills.