Research: I am interested in reducing the environmental impacts of energy systems. More specifically, I focus on understanding, measuring, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil energy sources. Reducing GHG emissions from fossil fuels is important because fossil energy sources will continue to be key components of our energy system for decades to come.
My research in this area uses the tools of life cycle assessment (LCA) and process optimization to measure and estimate impacts from technologies at broad scales (LCA) and to help reduce these impacts (optimization). Applications include reducing GHG emissions from transportation energy supply and from power systems through CCS.
Teaching: Through my teaching, I aim to help train the next generation of energy professionals to: optimize energy systems so as to improve their efficiency; rigorously account for the environmental impacts of energy sources; and think critically about systems-scale phenomena in energy production and consumption
Oil Sands Energy Intensity Assessment Using Facility-Level DataENERGY & FUELSEnglander, J. G., Brandt, A. R., Elgowainy, A., Cai, H., Han, J., Yeh, S., Wang, M. Q.2015; 29 (8): 5204-5212
Well-to-Wheels Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Canadian Oil Sands Products: Implications for US Petroleum FuelsENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYCai, H., Brandt, A. R., Yeh, S., Englander, J. G., Han, J., Elgowainy, A., Wang, M. Q.2015; 49 (13): 8219-8227
Uncertainty in Regional-Average Petroleum GHG Intensities: Countering Information Gaps with Targeted Data GatheringENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYBrandt, A. R., Sun, Y., Vafi, K.2015; 49 (1): 679-686
Optimization of carbon-capture-enabled coal-gas-solar power generationENERGYBrodrick, P. G., Kang, C. A., Brandt, A. R., Durlofsky, L. J.2015; 79: 149-162
Know your oilGordon, D., Brandt, A. R., Bergerson, J., Koomey, J.Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.2015
Optimization of carbon-capture-enabled coal-gas-solar power generationEnergyBrodrick, P. G., Kang, C. A., Brandt, A. R., Durlofsky, L. J.2015; 79: 149-162
Optimizing heat integration in a flexible coal-natural gas power station with CO2 captureINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GREENHOUSE GAS CONTROLKang, C. A., Brandt, A. R., Durlofsky, L. J.2014; 31: 138-152
Reproducibility of LCA Models of Crude Oil ProductionENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYVafi, K., Brandt, A. R.2014; 48 (21): 12978-12985
Uncertainty of Oil Field GHG Emissions Resulting from Information Gaps: A Monte Carlo ApproachENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYVafi, K., Brandt, A. R.2014; 48 (17): 10511-10518
Energy and environment. Methane leaks from North American natural gas systems.Science Brandt, A. R., Heath, G. A., Kort, E. A., O'Sullivan, F., Pétron, G., Jordaan, S. M., Tans, P., Wilcox, J., Gopstein, A. M., Arent, D., Wofsy, S., Brown, N. J., Bradley, R., Stucky, G. D., EARDLEY, D., Harriss, R.2014; 343 (6172): 733-735
Ensuring benefits from North American shale gas development: Towards a research agendaJournal of Unconventional Oil and Gas ResourcesBazilian, M., Brandt, A. R., Billman, L., Heath, G., Logan, J., Mann, M., Melaina, M., Statwick, P., Arent, D., Benson, S. M.2014; 7: 71–74
Oil Sands Energy Intensity Analysis for GREET Model UpdateTechnical Report, Argonne National LaboratoryEnglander, J. G., Brandt, A. R.2014
A better currency for investing in a sustainable futureNature Climate ChangeCarbajales-Dale, M., Barnhart, C. J., Brandt, A. R., Benson, S. M.2014; 4 (7): 524-527
Calculating systems-scale energy efficiency and net energy returns: A bottom-up matrix-based approachENERGYBrandt, A. R., Dale, M., Barnhart, C. J.2013; 62: 235-247
The energetic implications of curtailing versus storing solar- and wind-generated electricityENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCEBarnhart, C. J., Dale, M., Brandt, A. R., Benson, S. M.2013; 6 (10): 2804-2810
Historical trends in greenhouse gas emissions of the Alberta oil sands (1970-2010)ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERSEnglander, J. G., Bharadwaj, S., Brandt, A. R.2013; 8 (4)
Peak Oil Demand: The Role of Fuel Efficiency and Alternative Fuels in a Global Oil Production DeclineENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYBrandt, A. R., Millard-Ball, A., Ganser, M., Gorelick, S. M.2013; 47 (14): 8031-8041
CO2 Mitigation Potential of Mineral Carbonation with Industrial Alkalinity Sources in the United StatesENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYKirchofer, A., Becker, A., Brandt, A., Wilcox, J.2013; 47 (13): 7548-7554
The energy efficiency of oil sands extraction: Energy return ratios from 1970 to 2010ENERGYBrandt, A. R., Englander, J., Bharadwaj, S.2013; 55: 693-702
Open-Source LCA Tool for Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Crude Oil Production Using Field CharacteristicsENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYEl-Houjeiri, H. M., Brandt, A. R., Duffy, J. E.2013; 47 (11): 5998-6006
Using Infrastructure Optimization to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Oil Sands Extraction and ProcessingENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYMiddleton, R. S., Brandt, A. R.2013; 47 (3): 1735-1744
Historical trends in life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of Alberta oil sands extraction from 1970 to 2010: Causes and implications for future emissionsEnvironmental Research LettersEnglander, J., Brandt, A. R., Bharadwaj, S.2013; 8 (4): 44036
Assessing the Potential of Mineral Carbonation with Industrial Alkalinity Sources in the USGHGT-11Kirchofer, A., Brandt, A., Krevor, S., Prigiobbe, V., Becker, A., Wilcox, J.2013; 37: 5858-5869
Estimating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from oil production operations using detailed field characteristicsEnvironmental Science & TechnologyEl-Houjeiri, H. M., Brandt, A. R.2013
Impact of alkalinity sources on the life-cycle energy efficiency of mineral carbonation technologiesENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCEKirchofer, A., Brandt, A., Krevor, S., Prigiobbe, V., Wilcox, J.2012; 5 (9): 8631-8641
Variability and Uncertainty in Life Cycle Assessment Models for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Canadian Oil Sands ProductionENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYBrandt, A. R.2012; 46 (2): 1253-1261
Willingness to Pay for a Climate Backstop: Liquid Fuel Producers and Direct CO2 Air CaptureENERGY JOURNALNemet, G. F., Brandt, A. R.2012; 33 (1): 53-81
Exploring the variation of GHG emissions from conventional oil production using an engineering-based LCA modelAmerican Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA) LCA XII ConferenceEl-Houjeiri, H. M., Brandt, A. R.2012
Optimal heat integration in a coal-natural gas energy park with CO2 captureGHGT-11, the 11th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control TechnologiesKang, C. A., Brandt, A. R., Durlofsky, L. J.2012
Impact of CO2 Emissions Policy and System Configuration on Optimal Operation of an Integrated Fossil-Renewable Energy ParkCarbon Management Technologies ConferenceKang, C. A., Brandt, A. R., Durlofsky, L. J.2012
Optimal operation of an integrated energy system including fossil fuel power generation, CO2 capture and windENERGYKang, C. A., Brandt, A. R., Durlofsky, L. J.2011; 36 (12): 6806-6820
Oil Depletion and the Energy Efficiency of Oil Production: The Case of CaliforniaSUSTAINABILITYBrandt, A. R.2011; 3 (10): 1833-1854
A General Mathematical Framework for Calculating Systems-Scale Efficiency of Energy Extraction and Conversion: Energy Return on Investment (EROI) and Other Energy Return RatiosENERGIESBrandt, A. R., Dale, M.2011; 4 (8): 1211-1245
Oil Shale as an Energy Resource in a CO2 Constrained World: The Concept of Electricity Production with in Situ Carbon CaptureENERGY & FUELSMulchandani, H., Brandt, A. R.2011; 25 (4): 1633-1641
CO2 Interim Storage: Technical Characteristics and Potential Role in CO2 Market Development10TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GREENHOUSE GAS CONTROL TECHNOLOGIESFarhat, K., Brandt, A., Benson, S. M.2011; 4: 2628-2636
Land Use Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Conventional Oil Production and Oil SandsENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYYeh, S., Jordaan, S. M., Brandt, A. R., Turetsky, M. R., Spatari, S., Keith, D. W.2010; 44 (22): 8766-8772
The Climate Impacts of Bioenergy Systems Depend on Market and Regulatory Policy ContextsENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYLemoine, D. M., Plevin, R. J., Cohn, A. S., Jones, A. D., Brandt, A. R., Vergara, S. E., Kammen, D. M.2010; 44 (19): 7347-7350
Global oil depletion: A review of the evidenceENERGY POLICYSorrell, S., Speirs, J., Bentley, R., Brandt, A., Miller, R.2010; 38 (9): 5290-5295
Review of mathematical models of future oil supply: Historical overview and synthesizing critiqueENERGYBrandt, A. R.2010; 35 (9): 3958-3974
Energy Intensity and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Thermal Enhanced Oil RecoveryENERGY & FUELSBrandt, A. R., Unnasch, S.2010; 24: 4581-4589
Dynamics of the oil transition: Modeling capacity, depletion, and emissionsENERGYBrandt, A. R., Plevin, R. J., Farrell, A. E.2010; 35 (7): 2852-2860
Converting Oil Shale to Liquid Fuels with the Alberta Taciuk Processor: Energy Inputs and Greenhouse Gas EmissionsENERGY & FUELSBrandt, A. R.2009; 23: 6253-6258
Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Oil Shale Derived Liquid FuelsOIL SHALE: A SOLUTION TO THE LIQUID FUEL DILEMMABrandt, A. R., Boak, J., Burnham, A. K.2009; 1032: 219-248
An assessment of the evidence for a near-term peak in global oil productionUK Energy Research CentreSorrell, S., Speirs, J., Bentley, R., Brandt, A., Miller, R.2009
Converting oil shale to liquid fuels: Energy inputs and greenhouse gas emissions of the Shell in situ conversion processEnvironmental Science & TechnologyBrandt, A. R.2008; 42: 7489-7495
Dynamics of the oil transition: Modeling capacity, costs, and emissionsUniversity of California Energy Institute, Energy Policy and Economics Working Paper 021Brandt, A. R., Farrell, A. E.2008
The Race for 21 Century Auto FuelsAIP Conference ProceedingsFarrell, A., Brandt, A., Arons, S., Levi, B., Levine, M., Schwartz, P.edited by Hafemeister, D.2008: 235-250
A low carbon fuel standard for California, part 2: Policy analysisCalifornia Energy CommissionFarrell, A. E., Sperling, D.2007
Testing HubbertEnergy PolicyBrandt, A. R.2007; 35: 3074-3088
Scraping the bottom of the barrel: CO2 emissions consequences of a transition to low-quality and synthetic petroleum resourcesClimatic ChangeBrandt, A. R., Farrell, A. E.2007; 84: 241-263
A low carbon fuel standard for California, part 1: Technical analysisCalifornia Energy CommissionFarrell, A. E., Sperling, D., et al2007
Risks of the oil transitionEnvironmental Research LettersFarrell, A. E., Brandt, A. R.2006; 1 (1)
Research roadmap for greenhouse gas inventory methodsCalifornia Energy Commission ReportFarrell, A. E., Kerr, A., Brandt, A. R., Torn, M.2005; CEC-500-2005-097