Landscape

Environment

Sustainability and Energy Conversions

Sally M. Benson^a1 and Franklin M. Orr Jr.^a1

^a1 Stanford University, USA

Abstract

A sustainable global energy system requires a transition away from energy sources with high greenhouse emissions. Vast energy resources are available to meet our needs, and technology pathways for making this transition exist. Lowering the cost and increasing the reliability and quality of energy from sustainable energy sources will facilitate this transition. Changing the world's energy systems is a huge challenge, but it is one that can be undertaken now with improvements in energy efficiency and with continuing deployment of a variety of technologies. Numerous opportunities exist for research in material sciences to contribute to this global-scale challenge.

(Online publication March 31 2011)

Sally M. Benson can be reached at Stanford University, Global Climate and Energy Project, 4230 Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki Environment and Energy Bldg., 473 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; tel. 650-725-0358, and e-mail smbenson@stanford.edu.

Benson is a research professor in the Energy Resources Engineering Department in the School of Earth Sciences at Stanford University, and the executive director of the Global Climate and Energy Project. She received her MS and PhD degrees from the University of California in materials science and mineral engineering. Benson joined Stanford in 2007 after working at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in a number of capacities, including Earth Science Division Director, Associate Laboratory Director for Energy Sciences, and Deputy Director for Operations.

Franklin M. Orr, Jr. can be reached at Stanford University, Global Climate and Energy Project, Yang and Yamasaki Environment and Energy Building, Rm. 324, 473 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305-4230, USA; tel. 650-725-6270, fax 650-725-9190, and e-mail fmorr@stanford.edu.

Orr is the Keleen and Carlton Beal Professor in Petroleum Engineering in the Department of Energy Resources Engineering and director of the Global Climate and Energy Project at Stanford University. He holds a PhD degree from the University of Minnesota and a BS degree from Stanford University, both in chemical engineering. Orr joined Stanford in 1985 and served as dean of the School of Earth Sciences from 1994 to 2002. His research interests include multiphase flow in porous media, CO₂ sequestration, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from energy use. In addition, Orr is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.