The IEEE SusTech Initiative seeks to contribute technical expertise and solutions to address sustainability challenges, including climate change. This initiative is growing rapidly, and new volunteers are always welcome.

Workshops in various formats are offered free of charge throughout the year. These fascinating, interactive workshops engage technical professionals and academics from around the world to map technology development needs according to gaps identified by the work of the Planet Positive 2030 Compendium.

Professor Wei-Jen Lee, University of Texas at Arlington, presents his Solar Trends overview of solar energy from the 19th century and how it has progressed to the present day. Topics covered include the theory of the PV (Photo Voltaic) cell, its effect and efficiency, and the evolution of solar cell design. 

Prof. Lee has been involved in research on Utility Deregulation, Renewable Energy, Arc Flash Hazards and Electrical Safety, Smart Grid, MicroGrid, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Virtual Power Plants (VPP), AI for Load, Price, and Wind Capacity Forecasting, Power Quality, Distribution Automation, Demand Response, Power Systems Analysis, Short Circuit Analysis and Relay Coordination, Distributed Energy Resources, Energy Storage System, PEV Charging Infrastructure Design, AMI and Big Data, On Line Real Time Equipment Diagnostic and Prognostic System, and Microcomputer Based Instrument for Power Systems Monitoring, Measurement, Control, and Protection.

Prof. Lee is a Fellow of IEEE, member of National Academy of Inventors, and registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas.

Data Center (DC) energy growth accelerated by AI proliferation and generative AI evolution is catalyzing demand for disclosure and improvement of DC energy efficiency and sustainability. 

The recently adopted Delegated Act to the EU Energy Efficiency Directive is the start of an expected wave of regulations intended to improve sustainability. 

This talk ties together ongoing efforts across the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact (CNDCP), the Green Grid, Open Compute Project® (OCP), and iMasons to facilitate and harmonize credible metrics to help meet these demands.

End-of-life lithium-ion batteries in electric and hybrid-electric vehicles are just now starting to reach their end-of-life. Battery recycling is needed to recover the valuable materials needed to support new battery production and reduce waste and environmental impact. The ReCell Center is working to develop, scale up, and demonstrate battery recycling processes that reduce cost and increase the profit of battery recycling.

Near-term sustainability goals focus on eliminating greenhouse gases (GHGs). Transportation is a major contributor to GHGs, and sustainability requires eliminating petroleum and fossil fuels used for vehicle electrification. 

To effectively guide that action, this talk envisions how sustainable transportation improves business as usual. The present paradigm of wasting energy on a 4000-pound vehicle to haul one or two people is unsustainable. 

The future requires going beyond bike share, automated automobiles, and automated transit networks. When these technologies are merged, small, choreographed pods could end congestion.

People move faster and at lower economic and energy costs, and freight can be moved more efficiently. A key to efficient energy use for passengers and freight is to make the vehicles lighter than the load. 

Light vehicles require fewer batteries, which benefits the grid.

Increasing Computing Energy Efficiency is a Key Requirement for Sustainability
The future has arrived for climate change and unsustainable computing energy use. Experts confirm that the globe warmed 1.5 degrees C–the threshold for dangerous human climate interference–in 2023, and each successive month has set temperature records. 

Then, in March 2024, front-page stories in the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal documented AI-driven exponentially increasing energy demands for computing (e.g., data centers) that are quadrupling forecasts for electricity use. Other drivers of exponentially increasing microelectronics energy use–such as the proliferation of web-connected smart devices and the build-up to 6G and beyond in wireless communications, have yet to manifest.

Against this backdrop, our 2022 DOE initiative on microelectronics Energy Efficiency Scaling over 2 Decades (EES2)–the topic of this talk–seems prescient. When launched–one month after the CHIPS and Science Act was signed–DOE’s Undersecretary Richmond declared that we could not reach Climate goals without it. It counters exponential increases in microelectronics electricity use with exponential increases in energy efficiency over the next 20 years. The talk will detail our efforts in the DOE’s Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) to develop an RD&D plan in 2023.

The next steps are to get public input and deploy the technologies–including at least a dozen commercially ready–as quickly as possible, starting by the end of 2024. In addition to spreading the word on the EES2 RD&D Roadmap and the workforce needed to perform the RD&D and manufacture the technologies–we will use the bully pulpit of the EES2 Initiative, which so far includes 61 organizations that have pledged to join the DOE to stay on the path of doubling microelectronics’ energy efficiency every two years. 

See the DOE EES2 Pledge.

Efficient, Cost-Effective Polymeric Materials Design for Clean Energy and Biomedical Technologies via Biomass Valorization. Addressing technical challenges through cutting-edge materials research is the key to excelling in sustainable, clean energy technologies like fuel cells and electrolyzers.

Current H-fuel cells' major challenges include ion transport limitation (low-temperature), stability (high-temperature), expensive materials, and environmental sustainability. 

To overcome these obstacles, we need to rethink the design of ion-conducting polymers (ionomers) playing the pivotal roles in separators and catalyst layers of these devices.

Off-shore Wind Power Studies.

How can we meet our energy needs and still care for the environment in the era of anthropogenic climate change?

Electrifying Agriculture: E-Farms; Weed Management; Agrivoltaics

With the pressing need to mitigate climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, offshore energy generation presents a promising avenue for achieving sustainability goals. This panel showcases emerging technologies and discusses their potential to revolutionize the offshore energy landscape while addressing environmental concerns.

The IEEE SusTech 2024 conference panel on “Novel Technologies for Sustainable Offshore Energy Generation” brought together leading experts, researchers, and innovators to explore groundbreaking advancements in the realm of offshore renewable energy.

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, demanding concerted efforts from individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide. Harnessing the potential of young professionals is crucial for driving innovative solutions and catalyzing meaningful change.
Recognizing the significance of engaging young professionals in the fight against climate change, the IEEE Young Professionals program has emerged as a key player in fostering a sustainable future. 

The aim of the panel forum at the SusTech 2024 Conference is to highlight the pivotal role of IEEE Young Professionals in the realm of climate change, explore their current contributions, and outline strategies for more proactive engagement.