Prioritization of technology development and scale-up pathways for sustainable (bio)energy systems*

Abstract:
The pursuit of clean, equitable, renewable fuels has become a catalyst for research and development. Yet a critical challenge in transitioning fuel supply chains is the vast landscape of possible technology development pathways and the lack of transparent, consistent frameworks to target research and investment. This presentation will introduce quantitative sustainable design (QSD), a framework for prioritizing research, development, and deployment pathways for emerging technologies. QSD integrates process design and simulation, techno-economic analysis, and life cycle assessment under uncertainty to identify the factors governing sustainability, quantify performance gaps, establish actionable research targets, and guide technology and system design. Examples from the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation will illustrate how QSD can inform the conversion of perennial grasses (including Miscanthus, switchgrass, and sugarcane) and agricultural residues into biofuels and bioproducts, with particular attention to sustainable aviation fuel. By connecting process-scale analyses with broader infrastructure and spatial models, we also evaluate where and how these technologies could be deployed, including opportunities to integrate low-carbon fuel production with existing infrastructure and strategically site bioenergy facilities. Together, these examples demonstrate how transparent, systems-level analysis can direct innovation and investment toward energy solutions that are technically feasible, financially viable, environmentally beneficial, and responsive to broader societal goals.

Biography:
Dr. Jeremy Guest is the Department Head and David C. Crawford Faculty Scholar in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He also holds an appointment (by courtesy) as a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The core goal of Professor Guest’s research group is to advance circular bioeconomies for a more sustainable and just future. His team supports this vision by developing computational models to prioritize research, development, and deployment pathways for new technologies that achieve resource recovery from wastewaters and the conversion of plants to products, food, and fuels. Professor Guest’s formal training includes a B.S. and M.S. in civil engineering from Bucknell University and Virginia Tech, respectively, and a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Michigan.