The development of efficient sustainable energy sources is one of the major challenges currently facing the world. Global research is focused on increased efficiency of conventional energy sources, the development of practical renewable sources for the future, and the distribution of energy throughout global networks. The effective use of computational approaches in this diverse and multi-disciplinary area is essential to complement experimental activities.
At EPFL, computational energy research is undertaken in a wide range of areas, including hydraulic and gas turbines, fuel cells and batteries, nuclear fusion, wind and solar energy. These applied activities rely on the integration of fundamental studies in different basic areas (e.g. fluid and solid mechanics, plasma physics) or in the development of novel, efficient materials for the harvesting, conversion, and storage of energy.
Specific STI and ENAC laboratories involved in computational energy research include:
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GTT – Thermal Turbomachinery Group (Dr Peter Ott)
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LAMD – Laboratory for Applied Mechanical Design (Prof. Jürg Schiffmann)
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LENI – Industrial Energy Systems Laboratory (Prof. Daniel Favrat)
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LIPID – Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Performance-Integrated Design (Prof. Marilyne Anderson)
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LMH – Hydraulic Machines Laboratory (Prof. François Avellan)
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LRESE – Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering (Prof. Sophia Haussener)
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LTCM – Heat and Mass Transfer Laboratory (Prof. John Thome)
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THEOS – Theory and Simulation of Materials (Prof. Nicola Marzari)
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WIRE – Wind Engineering and Renewable Energy Laboratory (Prof. Fernando Porté-Agel)
