Skip to main content

MITx: Sustainable Energy

4.3 stars
12 ratings

Learn to critically analyze modern energy technologies from engineering and socio-political perspectives, and gain the skills necessary to help the world meet rising energy demand while reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change

Sustainable Energy
13 weeks
8–12 hours per week
Instructor-paced
Instructor-led on a course schedule
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

27,012 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Sep 10
Ends Dec 10

About this course

Skip About this course

Climate change is an urgent global challenge demanding engineering solutions and large-scale, systems-oriented coordination. In Sustainable Energy, you’ll join thousands of global learners in examining conventional and renewable energy generation technologies, studying how they are deployed throughout the world, and evaluating their roles in the future energy landscape. Technologies include solar power, wind power, storage, nuclear power, hydropower, and bioenergy.

In addition to technological components, you’ll become familiar with the economic, political, and social dimensions of energy project planning. Professionals from diverse backgrounds must work together to determine pathways to decarbonization amidst scientific uncertainty and unique geopolitical challenges. You will be presented with advanced tools and strategies to explore pathways to decarbonization in specific contexts, and to build consensus among stakeholders.

The course is instructed by Michael Golay, Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Additional experts in various technologies will offer guest lectures, including:

Dr. Patrick Brown, National Renewable Energy Lab

Dr. Diane Rigos, MIT Energy Initiative

Dr. Alex Kalmikov, Lead Data Scientist, Aetna

Dr. Francis O' Sullivan, Orsted North America

Dr. Charles Forsberg, MIT Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Dr. Donald Sadoway, MIT Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Dr. Dennis Whyte, MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center

Dr. Zach Hartwig, MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center

Dr. Gregory Stephanopoulos, MIT Department of Chemical Engineering

Dr. Vrushank Phadnis, MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering

Course image is the cover to Sustainable Energy, Choosing Among Options, second edition, reprinted courtesy of The MIT Press.

Please note: edX Inc. has recently entered into an agreement to transfer the edX platform to 2U, Inc., which will continue to run the platform thereafter. The sale will not affect your course enrollment, course fees or change your course experience for this offering. It is possible that the closing of the sale and the transfer of the edX platform may be effectuated sometime in the Fall while this course is running. Please be aware that there could be changes to the edX platform Privacy Policy or Terms of Service after the closing of the sale. However, 2U has committed to preserving robust privacy of individual data for all learners who use the platform. For more information see the edX Help Center.

At a glance

  • Institution: MITx
  • Subject: Energy & Earth Sciences
  • Level: Advanced
  • Prerequisites:
    • Strong English skills recommended
    • Ability to perform mathematical operations, study of calculus is helpful
    • College-level study of physics, engineering, and/or environmental science is helpful
  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated programs:
  • Associated skills:Nuclear Power, Data Science, Materials Science, Energy Technology, Greenhouse Gas, Renewable Energy, Wind Power, Hydropower, Sales

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • How to critically evaluate key features, opportunities, and challenges associated with modern energy technologies, and understand how these factors shape their contributions to global decarbonization
  • Use systems-level tools and skills to analyze the technological, economic, and socio-political dimensions of real-word energy projects
  • Build consensus among involved stakeholders to achieve sustainability goals

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

This course is part of Future Energy Systems XSeries Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
4 high-quality courses
Instructor-led
Assignments and exams have specific due dates
11 months
8 - 11 hours per week

Interested in this course for your business or team?

Train your employees in the most in-demand topics, with edX For Business.