Project Teams
ETC offers members the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and analytical skills in project teams. Guided by seasoned project managers, ETC teams tackle real-world energy challenges and make meaningful contributions to local communities. Through this hands-on experience, members gain project management, energy analysis, and data analysis skills, positioning themselves for a meaningful career in a variety of industries.
Energy Storage
While various campus buildings have prioritized sustainability by installing efficient lighting and rooftop solar, the development of battery and thermal energy storage systems could further enhance campus energy use optimization. Our team works with Cornell Energy & Sustainability to analyze the economic and technological feasibility of integrating storage technologies in a variety of campus applications.
Building Decarbonization
Retrofitting Ithaca's residential buildings with energy-efficient systems could significantly cut costs, reduce CO2, and improve air quality. In conjunction with Cornell's Einhorn Center and Facilities and Campus Services, this team charts the path to decarbonizing Cornell's co-ops, Greek Housing, and local low-income housing through economic & policy analysis and feasibility studies.
Carbon Capture
Even with rapid deployment of renewables, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is increasingly seen as a viable and necessary method of hitting net-zero targets worldwide. In partnership with RMI, the carbon capture and storage team examines the opportunities and challenges associated with carbon capture deployment in the US.
Grid Modernization
This project team explores how emerging technologies and innovations can help accelerate the transition to a more flexible, resilient, and decarbonized electric grid. Although the team’s exact project scope will evolve, we hope to overall contribute to real-world research and initiatives related to the future of the grid.
Climate Policy
This project team is partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension to help city, town, and county governments develop and implement climate action plans. This semester, we will meet with local leaders and activists across upstate New York to learn about their experiences. Our end goal is to create a step-by-step guide that will empower any municipality in New York State to tackle the climate crisis locally.
Workforce Development
This project team is partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) to provide clean energy workforce training to adults and high-schoolers around Tompkins County. We have three goals for this team: 1) develop curriculum for existing workforce development programs, 2) expand opportunities for these programs and their students, and 3) develop similar programs in other parts of the state.
Bioenergy
The production of biogas from dairy operations using anaerobic digesters has exploded into the ag-tech space in recent years. As more farmers in NYS are considering this option, ETC's bioenergy team is working with Cornell Atkinson Center and CALS to develop and install an anaerobic digester on-site at the Cornell Teaching Dairy.