Carbon Intensity Traceability of Global Energy Systems via Bottom-up Life-Cycle Assessment
Monday, March 31, 2025 @ 1:00 PM
Location: Room 202, Chemical and Biological Engineering Building, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver
Speaker: Dr. Mohammad S. Masnadi, Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, PA
We encourage in person seminar, however, if you can only join online, zoom link is available when requested. Please email sarah@cerc.ubc.ca.
Abstract
Emerging technologies (e.g., remote sensing measurements via satellites, artificial intelligence via large language models) integrated with data-driven modeling enable obtaining high resolution insight about carbon footprints of different energy systems, with a profound impact on framing new energy policies and decisions. In this talk, Dr. Masnadi utilizes life-cycle assessment and summarize decade long interdisciplinary research efforts to address some key energy transition knowledge gaps related to oil and gas systems in a national and global scales. The talk will also cover how linking granular life-cycle assessment outcomes with econometric models enables new policy design to deliberately mitigate specific emissions (e.g., fugitive methane emissions). The speaker will also show how market effects like oil demand reduction due to electrification of light duty transportation are correlated with carbon footprints of fossil fuel systems and the industry resilience against those demand shocks.
Biography
Mohammad Masnadi is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Pittsburgh. His lab combines experimental research with system-level modeling to develop more sustainable processes. His experimental research lab investigates development of novel class of catalytic media with high durability in complex reaction systems such as cellulosic biomass conversion and depolymerization of plastics enabling circular economy. His lab is also actively working on data-driven life-cycle assessment of different processes and energy systems, emerging mitigations technology assessment, and carbon risk management. He received his MASc and Ph.D. in Chemical & Biological Engineering from the University of British Columbia and spent four years as a research staff at Stanford University Energy Science & Engineering Department before moving to Pittsburgh.