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Full-Text Articles in Quantum Physics

Prioritizing Investment In Residential Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy: A Case Study For The U.S. Midwest, Robert J. Brecha, Austin Mitchell, Kevin P. Hallinan, J. Kelly Kissock Sep 2016

Prioritizing Investment In Residential Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy: A Case Study For The U.S. Midwest, Robert J. Brecha, Austin Mitchell, Kevin P. Hallinan, J. Kelly Kissock

J. Kissock

Residential building energy use is an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and in the United States represents about 20% of total energy consumption. A number of previous macro-scale studies of residential energy consumption and energy-efficiency improvements are mainly concerned with national or international aggregate potential savings. In this paper we look into the details of how a collection of specific homes in one region might reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, with particular attention given to some practical limits to what can be achieved by upgrading the existing residential building stock. Using a simple model of residential, single-family home …


Prioritizing Investment In Residential Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy: A Case Study For The U.S. Midwest, Robert J. Brecha, Austin Mitchell, Kevin P. Hallinan, J. Kelly Kissock Jun 2016

Prioritizing Investment In Residential Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy: A Case Study For The U.S. Midwest, Robert J. Brecha, Austin Mitchell, Kevin P. Hallinan, J. Kelly Kissock

Kevin Hallinan

Residential building energy use is an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and in the United States represents about 20% of total energy consumption. A number of previous macro-scale studies of residential energy consumption and energy-efficiency improvements are mainly concerned with national or international aggregate potential savings. In this paper we look into the details of how a collection of specific homes in one region might reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, with particular attention given to some practical limits to what can be achieved by upgrading the existing residential building stock. Using a simple model of residential, single-family home …


Path Integral Study Of The Correlated Electronic States Of Na4–Na6, Randall W. Hall Jun 2016

Path Integral Study Of The Correlated Electronic States Of Na4–Na6, Randall W. Hall

Randall W. Hall

Feynman’s path integral formulation of quantum mechanics is used to study the correlated electronic states of Na4–Na6. Two types of simulations are performed: in the first, the nuclei are allowed to move at finite temperature in order to find the most stable geometries. In agreement with previous calculations, we find that planar structures are the most stable and that there is significant vibrational amplitude at finite temperatures, indicating that the Born–Oppenheimer surface is relatively flat. In the second type of simulation, the nuclei are held fixed at symmetric and asymmetric geometries and the correlated electron density is found. Our results …


Kl−Ks Mass Difference And Supersymmetric Left-Right-Symmetric Theories, Asim Gangopadhyaya Feb 2016

Kl−Ks Mass Difference And Supersymmetric Left-Right-Symmetric Theories, Asim Gangopadhyaya

Asim Gangopadhyaya

The supersymmetric contributions to the KL−KS mass difference makes the previously obtained bounds on the right-handed scale (MR>1.6 TeV) much weaker. This raises the interesting possibility that the left-right model could be tested as an alternative to SUL(2)⊗U(1) at low energies. Also we find that to demand that the supersymmetric contribution to the KL−KS mass difference be less than 3.5×10−15 GeV requires that scalar-quark masses be more than 400 GeV.


Bose-Einstein Condensation Of Potassium Atoms By Sympathetic Cooling, Giovanni Modugno, Gabriele Ferrari, Giacomo Roati, Robert Brecha, A. Simoni, Massimo Inguscio Feb 2016

Bose-Einstein Condensation Of Potassium Atoms By Sympathetic Cooling, Giovanni Modugno, Gabriele Ferrari, Giacomo Roati, Robert Brecha, A. Simoni, Massimo Inguscio

Robert J. Brecha

We report on the Bose-Einstein condensation of potassium atoms, whereby quantum degeneracy is achieved by sympathetic cooling with evaporatively cooled rubidium. Because of the rapid thermalization of the two different atoms, the efficiency of the cooling process is high. The ability to achieve condensation by sympathetic cooling with a different species may provide a route to the production of degenerate systems with a larger choice of components.


Collapse Of A Degenerate Fermi Gas, Giovanni Modugno, Giacomo Roati, Francesco Riboli, Francesca Ferlaino, Robert Brecha, Massimo Inguscio Feb 2016

Collapse Of A Degenerate Fermi Gas, Giovanni Modugno, Giacomo Roati, Francesco Riboli, Francesca Ferlaino, Robert Brecha, Massimo Inguscio

Robert J. Brecha

A degenerate gas of identical fermions is brought to collapse by the interaction with a Bose-Einstein condensate. We used an atomic mixture of fermionic potassium-40 and bosonic rubidium-87, in which the strong interspecies attraction leads to an instability above a critical number of particles. The observed phenomenon suggests a direction for manipulating fermion-fermion interactions on the route to superfluidity.


Cost Optimization With Solar And Conventional Energy Production, Energy Storage, And Real Time Pricing, Ata Raziei, Kevin Hallinan, Robert Brecha Feb 2016

Cost Optimization With Solar And Conventional Energy Production, Energy Storage, And Real Time Pricing, Ata Raziei, Kevin Hallinan, Robert Brecha

Robert J. Brecha

Research is presented that investigates the potential for solar power generation with battery energy storage for reducing the effective cost of energy delivered to residential customers if real time pricing is present. A linear optimization approach is developed based upon a two-step process. In step one, given a specified solar array area and battery capacity, the optimal means to meet loads based upon grid power, solar power, and/or battery power is determined. This analysis considers an expected lifespan of the solar panel. With these results established, in the next step, the capital costs for the solar arrays and batteries are …


Dipolar Oscillations In A Quantum Degenerate Fermi–Bose Atomic Mixture, Francesca Ferlaino, Robert Brecha, Peter Hannaford, Francesco Riboli, Giacomo Roati, Giovanni Modugno, Massimo Inguscio Feb 2016

Dipolar Oscillations In A Quantum Degenerate Fermi–Bose Atomic Mixture, Francesca Ferlaino, Robert Brecha, Peter Hannaford, Francesco Riboli, Giacomo Roati, Giovanni Modugno, Massimo Inguscio

Robert J. Brecha

We study the dynamics of coupled dipolar oscillations in a Fermi–Bose mixture of 40K and 87Rb atoms. This low-energy collective mode is strongly affected by the interspecies interactions. Measurements are performed in the classical and quantum degenerate regimes and reveal the crucial role of the statistical properties of the mixture. At the onset of quantum degeneracy, we investigate the role of Pauli blocking and superfluidity for K and Rb atoms, respectively, resulting in a change in the collisional interactions.


The Carbon Rent Economics Of Climate Policy, Matthias Kalkuhl, Robert Brecha Jan 2016

The Carbon Rent Economics Of Climate Policy, Matthias Kalkuhl, Robert Brecha

Robert J. Brecha

By reducing the demand for fossil fuels, climate policy can reduce scarcity rents for fossil resource owners. As mitigation policies ultimately aim to limit emissions, a new scarcity for “space” in the atmosphere to deposit emissions is created. The associated scarcity rent, or climate rent (that is, for example, directly visible in permit prices under an emission trading scheme) can be higher or lower than the original fossil resource rent. In this paper, we analyze analytically and numerically the impact of mitigation targets, resource availability, backstop costs, discount rates and demand parameters on fossil resource rents and the climate rent. …


Analyzing Major Challenges Of Wind And Solar Variability In Power Systems, Falko Ueckerdt, Robert Brecha, Gunnar Luderer Jan 2016

Analyzing Major Challenges Of Wind And Solar Variability In Power Systems, Falko Ueckerdt, Robert Brecha, Gunnar Luderer

Robert J. Brecha

Ambitious policy targets together with current and projected high growth rates indicate that future power systems will likely show substantially increased generation from renewable energy sources. A large share will come from the variable renewable energy (VRE) sources wind and solar photovoltaics (PV); however, integrating wind and solar causes challenges for existing power systems. In this paper we analyze three major integration challenges related to the structural matching of demand with the supply of wind and solar power: low capacity credit, reduced utilization of dispatchable plants, and over-produced generation. Based on residual load duration curves we define corresponding challenge variables …


Global Fossil Energy Markets And Climate Change Mitigation: An Analysis With Remind, Nico Bauer, Ioanna Mouratiadou, Gunnar Luderer, Lavinia Baumstark, Robert Brecha, Ottmar Edenhofer, Elmar Kriegler Jan 2016

Global Fossil Energy Markets And Climate Change Mitigation: An Analysis With Remind, Nico Bauer, Ioanna Mouratiadou, Gunnar Luderer, Lavinia Baumstark, Robert Brecha, Ottmar Edenhofer, Elmar Kriegler

Robert J. Brecha

We analyze the dynamics of global fossil resource markets under different assumptions for the supply of fossil fuel resources, development pathways for energy demand, and climate policy settings. Resource markets, in particular the oil market, are characterized by a large discrepancy between costs of resource extraction and commodity prices on international markets. We explain this observation in terms of (a) the intertemporal scarcity rent, (b) regional price differentials arising from trade and transport costs, (c) heterogeneity and inertia in the extraction sector. These effects are captured by the REMIND model. We use the model to explore economic effects of changes …


Logistic Curves, Extraction Costs And Peak Oil, Robert Brecha Jan 2016

Logistic Curves, Extraction Costs And Peak Oil, Robert Brecha

Robert J. Brecha

Debates about the possibility of a near-term maximum in world oil production have become increasingly prominent over the past decade, with the focus often being on the quantification of geologically available and technologically recoverable amounts of oil in the ground. Economically, the important parameter is not a physical limit to resources in the ground, but whether market price signals and costs of extraction will indicate the efficiency of extracting conventional or nonconventional resources as opposed to making substitutions over time for other fuels and technologies. We present a hybrid approach to the peak-oil question with two models in which the …


Economic And Environmental Impacts Of Community-Based Residential Building Energy Efficiency Investment, Jun-Ki Choi, Drew Morrison, Kevin Hallinan, Robert Brecha Jan 2016

Economic And Environmental Impacts Of Community-Based Residential Building Energy Efficiency Investment, Jun-Ki Choi, Drew Morrison, Kevin Hallinan, Robert Brecha

Robert J. Brecha

A systematic framework for evaluating the local economic and environmental impacts of investment in building energy efficiency is developed. Historical residential building energy data, community-wide economic input-output data, and emission intensity data are utilized. The aim of this study is to show the comprehensive insights and connection among achieving variable target reductions for a residential building energy use, economic and environmental impacts. Central to this approach for the building energy reduction goal is the creation of individual energy models for each building based upon historical energy data and available building data. From these models, savings estimates and cost implications can …


Development Without Energy? Assessing Future Scenarios Of Energy Consumption In Developing Countries, Jan Steckel, Robert Brecha, Michael Jakob, Jessica Strefler, Gunnar Luderer Jan 2016

Development Without Energy? Assessing Future Scenarios Of Energy Consumption In Developing Countries, Jan Steckel, Robert Brecha, Michael Jakob, Jessica Strefler, Gunnar Luderer

Robert J. Brecha

We analyze the relationship between economic development and energy consumption in the context of greenhouse gas mitigation. The main contribution of this work is to compare estimates of energy thresholds in the form of minimum energy requirements to reach high levels of development with output projections of per capita final energy supply from a group of integrated assessment models (IAMs). Scenarios project that reductions of carbon emissions in developing countries will be achieved not only by means of decreasing the carbon intensity, but also by making a significant break with the historically observed relationship between energy use and economic growth. …


Shape Invariance And Its Connection To Potential Algebra, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Jeffrey Mallow, Uday Sukhatme Jan 2016

Shape Invariance And Its Connection To Potential Algebra, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Jeffrey Mallow, Uday Sukhatme

Asim Gangopadhyaya

Exactly solvable potentials of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics are known to be shape invariant. For these potentials, eigenvalues and eigenvectors can be derived using well known methods of supersymmetric quantum mechanics. The majority of these potentials have also been shown to possess a potential algebra, and hence are also solvable by group theoretical techniques. In this paper, for a subset of solvable problems, we establish a connection between the two methods and show that they are indeed equivalent.


New Exactly Solvable Hamiltonians - Shape Invariance And Self-Similarity, David Barclay, Ranabir Dutt, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Avinash Khare, A. Pagnamenta, Uday Sukhatne Dec 2015

New Exactly Solvable Hamiltonians - Shape Invariance And Self-Similarity, David Barclay, Ranabir Dutt, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Avinash Khare, A. Pagnamenta, Uday Sukhatne

Asim Gangopadhyaya

We discuss in some detail the self-similar potentials of Shabat and Spiridonov which are reflectionless and have an infinite number of bound states. We demonstrate that these self-similar potentials are in fact shape invariant potentials within the formalism of supersymmetric quantum mechanics. In particular, using a scaling ansatz for the change of parameters, we obtain a large class of new, reflectionless, shape invariant potentials of which the Shabat-Spiridonov ones are a special case. These new potentials can be viewed as q-deformations of the single soliton solution corresponding to the Rosen-Morse potential. Explicit expressions for the energy eigenvalues, eigenfunctions and transmission …


Noncentral Potentials And Spherical Harmonics Using Supersymmetry And Shape Invariance, Ranabir Dutt, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Uday Sukhatne Dec 2015

Noncentral Potentials And Spherical Harmonics Using Supersymmetry And Shape Invariance, Ranabir Dutt, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Uday Sukhatne

Asim Gangopadhyaya

It is shown that the operator methods of supersymmetric quantum mechanics and the concept of shape invariance can profitably be used to derive properties of spherical harmonics in a simple way. The same operator techniques can also be applied to several problems with noncentral vector and scalar potentials. As examples, we analyze the bound state spectra of an electron in a Coulomb plus an Aharonov – Bohm field and/or in the magnetic field of a Dirac monopole.


Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics And Solvable Models, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Jonathan Bougie, Jeffrey Mallow, C. Rasinariu Dec 2015

Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics And Solvable Models, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Jonathan Bougie, Jeffrey Mallow, C. Rasinariu

Asim Gangopadhyaya

We review solvable models within the framework of supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSYQM). In SUSYQM, the shape invariance condition insures solvability of quantum mechanical problems. We review shape invariance and its connection to a consequent potential algebra. The additive shape invariance condition is specified by a difference-differential equation; we show that this equation is equivalent to an infinite set of partial differential equations. Solving these equations, we show that the known list of h-independent superpotentials is complete. We then describe how these equations could be extended to include superpotentials that do depend on h.


Comment On "Ideal Capacitor Circuits And Energy Conservation" By K. Mita And M. Boufaida [Am. J. Phys. 67 (8), 737-739 (1999)], Asim Gangopadhyaya, Jeffrey Mallow Dec 2015

Comment On "Ideal Capacitor Circuits And Energy Conservation" By K. Mita And M. Boufaida [Am. J. Phys. 67 (8), 737-739 (1999)], Asim Gangopadhyaya, Jeffrey Mallow

Asim Gangopadhyaya

No abstract provided.


Renormalization Group Equations In Broken Supersymmetric Theories Using Superspace Methods, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Darwin Chang Dec 2015

Renormalization Group Equations In Broken Supersymmetric Theories Using Superspace Methods, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Darwin Chang

Asim Gangopadhyaya

We apply the superfield method with the spurion technique to derive the renormalization-group equations in broken supersymmetric theories. We point out some possible ambiguities in this procedure and show that it is in general necessary to express the supersymmetry-breaking terms in explicit D-type form. We also found that it is possible to construct broken supersymmetric theories where some of the symmetry-breaking parameters do not receive any infinite renormalization.


Coordinate Realizations Of Deformed Lie Algebras With Three Generator, Ranabir Dutt, Asim Gangopadhyaya, C. Rasinariu, Uday Sukhatne Dec 2015

Coordinate Realizations Of Deformed Lie Algebras With Three Generator, Ranabir Dutt, Asim Gangopadhyaya, C. Rasinariu, Uday Sukhatne

Asim Gangopadhyaya

Differential realizations in coordinate space for deformed Lie algebras with three generators are obtained using bosonic creation and annihilation operators satisfying Heisenberg commutation relations. The unified treatment presented here contains as special cases all previously given coordinate realizations of so(2,1), so(3), and their deformations. Applications to physical problems involving eigenvalue determination in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics are discussed.


Anyonic Superconductivity In A Modified Large-U Hubbard Model, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Prasanta Panigrahi Dec 2015

Anyonic Superconductivity In A Modified Large-U Hubbard Model, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Prasanta Panigrahi

Asim Gangopadhyaya

A modified large-U Hubbard model at half filling is analyzed by a mean-field approach. Preserving a local U(1) symmetry of the action, the fluctuations about half filling are studied in the spirit of the commensurate-flux-phase condition. The fluctuations then contribute a Chern-Simons term to the tree-level Lagrangian with a coefficient appropriate to that of a half fermion. With the Coulomb repulsion term, we study the low-energy excitations of the model and show the existence of superconductivity in the presence of a four-Fermi interaction term.


Superspace Ward Identities In Supersymmetric Gauge Theories, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Darwin Chang Dec 2015

Superspace Ward Identities In Supersymmetric Gauge Theories, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Darwin Chang

Asim Gangopadhyaya

In superspace formulation of supersymmetric gauge theories, gauge invariance requires an infinite set of identities between the infinite set of renormalization constants. Using Ward identities in superspace, the same is derived. These identities at one loop level are also demonstrated.


Heterotic Conformal Field Theory And Gepner’S Construction, Darwin Chang, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Alok Kumar, Jin Wang Dec 2015

Heterotic Conformal Field Theory And Gepner’S Construction, Darwin Chang, Asim Gangopadhyaya, Alok Kumar, Jin Wang

Asim Gangopadhyaya

We discuss some general properties of heterotic conformal field theory in which conformal anomalies c are different for the left-moving and right-moving sectors. It is precisely this type of theory that can be applied immediately to the construction of heterotic string theory. We discuss a general way of constructing such a theory using free fermions. The construction is then applied to generalize Gepner's construction of superstring solutions using the tensor products of N=2 superconformal field theories.


Variable Renewable Energy In Modeling Climate Change Mitigation Scenarios, Falko Ueckerdt, Robert J. Brecha, Gunnar Luderer, Patrick Sullivan, Eva Schmid, Nico Bauer, Diana Böttger Jun 2015

Variable Renewable Energy In Modeling Climate Change Mitigation Scenarios, Falko Ueckerdt, Robert J. Brecha, Gunnar Luderer, Patrick Sullivan, Eva Schmid, Nico Bauer, Diana Böttger

Robert J. Brecha

This paper addresses the issue of how to account for short‐term temporal variability of renewable energy sources and power demand in long‐term climate change mitigation scenarios in energy‐economic models. An approach that captures in a stylized way the major challenges to the integration of variable renewable energy sources into power systems has been developed. As a first application this approach has been introduced to REMIND‐D, a hybrid energy‐economy model of Germany. An approximation of the residual load duration curve is implemented. The approximating function endogenously changes depending on the penetration and mix of variable renewable power. The approach can thus …


Establishing Building Recommissioning Priorities And Potential Energy Savings From Utility Energy Data, Kevin P. Hallinan, Philip Brodrick, Jessica Northridge, J. Kelly Kissock, Robert J. Brecha Jun 2015

Establishing Building Recommissioning Priorities And Potential Energy Savings From Utility Energy Data, Kevin P. Hallinan, Philip Brodrick, Jessica Northridge, J. Kelly Kissock, Robert J. Brecha

Robert J. Brecha

An energy reduction program for commercial buildings is implemented for a SW Ohio natural gas utility. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that historical utility data for individual building customers, along with knowledge of pertinent building information (square footage, year built, number of floors, height of floors, wall construction type, and use type) available in county auditor databases, could be used to identify the best candidate buildings for recommissioning in terms of energy savings and simple payback. A study is completed for all natural gas customers of a utility in Montgomery and Clinton counties in Ohio. A total …


Cooling Atoms In An Optical Trap By Selective Parametric Excitation, Nicola Poli, Robert J. Brecha, Giacomo Roati, Giovanni Modugno Jun 2015

Cooling Atoms In An Optical Trap By Selective Parametric Excitation, Nicola Poli, Robert J. Brecha, Giacomo Roati, Giovanni Modugno

Robert J. Brecha

We demonstrate the possibility of energy-selective removal of cold atoms from a tight optical trap by means of parametric excitation of the trap vibrational modes. Taking advantage of the anharmonicity of the trap potential, we either selectively remove the most energetic trapped atoms or excite those at the bottom of the trap by tuning the parametric modulation frequency. This process, which had been previously identified as a possible source of heating, also appears to be a robust way for forcing evaporative cooling in anharmonic traps.


Economics Of Nuclear Power And Climate Change Mitigation Policies, Nico Bauer, Robert Brecha, Gunnar Luderer Jun 2015

Economics Of Nuclear Power And Climate Change Mitigation Policies, Nico Bauer, Robert Brecha, Gunnar Luderer

Robert J. Brecha

The events of March 2011 at the nuclear power complex in Fukushima, Japan, raised questions about the safe operation of nuclear power plants, with early retirement of existing nuclear power plants being debated in the policy arena and considered by regulators. Also, the future of building new nuclear power plants is highly uncertain. Should nuclear power policies become more restrictive, one potential option for climate change mitigation will be less available. However, a systematic analysis of nuclear power policies, including early retirement, has been missing in the climate change mitigation literature. We apply an energy economy model framework to derive …


Two-Level Atom In An Optical Parametric Oscillator: Spectra Of Transmitted And Fluorescent Fields In The Weak Driving Field Limit, James P. Clemens, Perry R. Rice, Pranaw Kumar Rungta, Robert J. Brecha Jun 2015

Two-Level Atom In An Optical Parametric Oscillator: Spectra Of Transmitted And Fluorescent Fields In The Weak Driving Field Limit, James P. Clemens, Perry R. Rice, Pranaw Kumar Rungta, Robert J. Brecha

Robert J. Brecha

We consider the interaction of a two-level atom inside an optical parametric oscillator. In the weak-driving-field limit, we essentially have an atom-cavity system driven by the occasional pair of correlated photons, or weakly squeezed light. We find that we may have holes, or dips, in the spectrum of the fluorescent and transmitted light. This occurs even in the strong-coupling limit when we find holes in the vacuum-Rabi doublet. Also, spectra with a subnatural linewidth may occur. These effects disappear for larger driving fields, unlike the spectral narrowing obtained in resonance fluorescence in a squeezed vacuum; here it is important that …


Renewable Energy In The Context Of Sustainable Development, Jayant Sathaye, Oswaldo Lucon, Atiq Rahman, John Christensen, Fatima Denton, Junichi Fujino, Garvin Heath, Monirul Mirza, Hugh Rudnick, August Schlaepfer, Andrey Shmakin, Gerhard Angerer, Christian Bauer, Morgan Bazilian, Robert J. Brecha, Peter Burgherr, Leon Clarke, Felix Creutzig, James Edmonds, Christian Hagelüken, Gerrit Hansen, Nathan Hultman, Michael Jakob, Susanne Kadner, Manfred Lenzen, Jordan Macknick, Eric Masanet, Yu Nagai, Anne Olhoff, Karen Olsen, Michael Pahle, Ari Rabl, Richard Richels, Joyashree Roy, Tormod Schei, Christoph Von Stechow, Jan Christoph Steckel, Ethan Warner, Tom Wilbanks, Yimin Zhang Jun 2015

Renewable Energy In The Context Of Sustainable Development, Jayant Sathaye, Oswaldo Lucon, Atiq Rahman, John Christensen, Fatima Denton, Junichi Fujino, Garvin Heath, Monirul Mirza, Hugh Rudnick, August Schlaepfer, Andrey Shmakin, Gerhard Angerer, Christian Bauer, Morgan Bazilian, Robert J. Brecha, Peter Burgherr, Leon Clarke, Felix Creutzig, James Edmonds, Christian Hagelüken, Gerrit Hansen, Nathan Hultman, Michael Jakob, Susanne Kadner, Manfred Lenzen, Jordan Macknick, Eric Masanet, Yu Nagai, Anne Olhoff, Karen Olsen, Michael Pahle, Ari Rabl, Richard Richels, Joyashree Roy, Tormod Schei, Christoph Von Stechow, Jan Christoph Steckel, Ethan Warner, Tom Wilbanks, Yimin Zhang

Robert J. Brecha

Historically, economic development has been strongly correlated with increasing energy use and growth of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Renewable energy (RE) can help decouple that correlation, contributing to sustainable development (SD). In addition, RE offers the opportunity to improve access to modern energy services for the poorest members of society, which is crucial for the achievement of any single of the eight Millennium Development Goals. Theoretical concepts of SD can provide useful frameworks to assess the interactions between SD and RE. SD addresses concerns about relationships between human society and nature. Traditionally, SD has been framed in the three-pillar model—Economy, …