Initiative for Sustainable Energy

Research

Our research is based on three critical, interdependent themes: Renewable Energy, Sustainable Fuels/Materials and Energy Efficiency.

The Initiative for Sustainable Energy (ISE) announced Seed Research Awards for 2024-25. This represents a total investment of over $200,000 by Brown University in early-stage innovative faculty research with the potential to attract significant external funding, and have a broad impact in the area of sustainable energy.
The Initiative for Sustainable Energy (ISE) is pleased to announce the continuation of the Seed Funding Program, and solicits internal seed-project proposals in areas related to the three research thrusts of the ISE: renewable energy, sustainable fuels/materials, and energy efficiency.
News from ISE

ISE Seed Research Awards for 2023-2024

The Initiative for Sustainable Energy (ISE) announced the inaugural Seed Research Awards for 2023. This represents a total investment of over $400,000 by Brown University in early-stage innovative faculty research with the potential to attract significant external funding, and have a broad impact in the area of sustainable energy.

ISE Research Themes

These three interdependent themes are the most critical for fighting climate change and its dire consequences by achieving and maintaining a zero-carbon energy global infrastructure over the next century. These are also the areas of distinct strengths with ‘critical mass’ at Brown University, and are primed for elevation to the next level. Furthermore, each of these areas can be translated into practice in ways that redress the environmental injustices and disparate impacts of the existing fossil-based energy economy.

Renewable Energy 

  • Solar Photovoltaics
  • Wind Turbines
  • Water Turbines
  • Smart Grid
  • Batteries for EVs
  • Batteries for Utility Storage 

Sustainable Fuels/Materials

  • Green Hydrogen
  • Green Ammonia
  • Infrastructure
  • Propulsion
  • Manufacturing
  • Co2 Capture / Removal
  • Conversion
  • Sequestration

Energy Efficiency

  • Residential
  • Industrial
  • Transportation (Autos, Aircraft)
  • Innovative Materials
  • Computing, Data Storage

Broad Tools

  • Materials
  • Interfaces
  • Mechanics
  • Electrical
  • Geology
  • Catalysis
  • Combustion
  • Spintronics
  • Computations
  • Machine Learning
  • AI
  • Data Science
  • Techno-Economic Modeling
  • Carbon Index

The diagram visualizes the interconnectedness between the three themes, and the cross-cutting, broad tools that enable this research are listed on top and bottom.

Diagram of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Fuels/Materials