Energy Option
What is Energy Engineering?
Energy drives all activity and the appropriate management of energy issues is critical to a vibrant economy. Energy Engineering deals with all aspects of energy, from its generation to its end use, and including energy conversion, storage, transportation and distribution.
Energy Engineering normally deals extensively with energy-conversion systems such as internal combustion engines, which convert the chemical energy in fuel to thermal energy and then to mechanical energy. The discipline also addresses engineering aspects of electric pumps and compressors, solar photovoltaics, and steam and gas turbine generators, which produce electric power from wood, fossil fuels or uranium.
Energy Engineering increasingly focuses on the efficient and environmentally benign use of energy, as well as energy security and reliability.
What do Energy Engineers do?
Mechanical Engineers who specialize in Energy Engineering are traditionally concerned with the planning, design, construction, implementation, operation and improvement of energy and related systems. They often seek out methods to effectively increase efficiency and to use energy in cleaner ways. Energy Engineers often deal with energy systems simulation and energy management.
What types of careers do Energy Engineers find?
Students enrolled in the Energy Engineering option find careers in many fields related to energy, including the design and application of systems for electrical power production using conventional and alternative technologies, heating and cooling of buildings, refrigeration, and engines for transportation.
Program Map for Mechanical Engineering: Energy Engineering Option
Engineering and Management Program
Students can choose to complement their technical studies in this engineering program with business and management courses by opting for the five-year Engineering and Management program that corresponds to this discipline.
Program Map for Mechanical Engineering and Management: Energy Engineering Option