EPP Faculty :: Edward S. Rubin

Edward S. Rubin
	Office: Baker Hall 128A  Phone: (412) 268-5897  Email: rubin@cmu.edu  Assistant: Steve Gradeck (412) 268-6657 Publications Website

The Alumni Professor of Environmental Engineering and Science; Professor, Engineering and Public Policy and Mechanical Engineering.

Engineering-economic modeling and assessment of energy and environmental systems, with a focus on fossil fuel power generation; mitigation strategies for global climate change; carbon capture and sequestration; environmental technology innovation and the role of government policies.

B.E. (Mechanical Engineering) 1964, City College of New York
M.S. (Mechanical Engineering) 1965, Stanford University
Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) 1969, Stanford University

Carnegie Mellon, 1969 -.

Professor Rubin's research deals with technical, economic and policy issues related to energy and the environment, with a focus on reducing environmental impacts of electric power systems. One major product of this research is the Integrated Environmental Control Model (IECM)—a widely-used tool for engineering-economic design and analysis of current and advanced power generation systems, including pulverized coal combustion, integrated coal gasification combined cycle, and natural gas combined cycle systems. Current emphasis is on the modeling and assessment of CO2 capture and sequestration options for climate change mitigation, and the potential of advanced renewable energy systems.

Recent research also has examined the role of government policies on the nature and pace of technological innovation to meet environmental goals. Learning curves derived from historical case studies have been applied to estimate future costs of carbon sequestration systems and the global impacts of alternative climate policies. Additional research in these areas is done collaboratively with colleagues in the Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center (CEIC), the Climate Decision Making Center (CDMC) and the CCSReg Project.

Professor Rubin also serves on committees of the National Research Council studying climate change mitigation policies, energy R&D planning, and alternative transportation technologies. He was a coordinating lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. At Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Rubin was founding director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies and the Environmental Institute. He is a Fellow Member of the ASME, a past chairman of its Environmental Control Division, recipient of the AWMA Ripperton Award for distinguished achievements as an educator, and recipient of the Distinguished Professor of Engineering Award from Carnegie Mellon.

Recent Publications

Rubin, E.S., Power plant CO₂ capture technologies: Risks and risk governance deficits, International Risk Governance Council, Geneva, 36p (December 2009)

Van den Broek, M.,  R. Hoefnagels, E.S. Rubin, W. Turkenburg and A. Faaij,  "Effects of technological learning on future cost and performance of power plants with CO₂ capture,” Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, Vol. 35, p.457-480 (2009)

Rubin, E.S., A Performance Standards Approach to Reducing CO₂ Emissions from Electric Power Plants, White Paper Series, Coal Initiatives Reports, Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Arlington, VA, 27p (June 2009)

Chen, C. and E.S. Rubin "CO₂ control technology effects on IGCC plant performance and cost,” Energy Policy, Vol. 37, p.915-924 (2009).


References and further reading may be available for this article. To view references and further reading you must purchase this article.

Rubin, E.S., "CO₂ Capture and Transport,” Elements, Vol. 4, p. 311–317 (Oct 2008).

McCoy, S.T. and E. S. Rubin, "An Engineering-Economic Model of Pipeline Transport of CO₂ with Application to Carbon Capture and Storage,” International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Vol. 2, p. 219-229 (2008).

Rubin E.S., C. Chen and A.B. Rao, "Cost and Performance of Fossil Fuel Power Plants with CO₂ Capture and Storage,” Energy Policy, Vol. 35, p.4444- 4454 (2007).

Rubin, E.S., S. Yeh, M. Antes, M. Berkenpas and J. Davison, "Use of Experience Curves to Estimate the Future Cost of Power Plants with CO₂ Capture,” International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Vol. 1, p.188-197 (2007).