CHEE Seminar: Fernando Garcia Menendez
Monday, March 11, 2024 – 10:00 a.m.
Fernando Garcia Menendez, PhD
Associate Professor of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
North Carolina State University
"Integrating Air Pollution Impacts Into Power Sector Operations and Decarbonization Efforts"
Cesar Chavez Building, Room 400
ABSTRACT
The electric power sector is among the largest sources of greenhouse gases and air pollution, significantly impacting climate and human health. In this research, we identify strategies to mitigate the negative effects of electricity generation through computational frameworks that link power systems and air quality models. The frameworks rely on different air pollution and energy system modeling approaches and aim to integrate public health and climate costs into power system decision-making. In this presentation, I will share findings from our research exploring electricity generation in Texas and China. Our research shows that power plant redispatching and grid-scale energy storage can be used to co-minimize system costs and the damages associated with power plant emissions. It also quantifies the public health consequences of strategies to cut greenhouse gas emissions and projects how decarbonization pathways may vary if these impacts are considered. Finally, our research investigates disparities in population exposure to air pollution associated with electricity generation and whether these will be alleviated by ongoing energy system transitions.
BIOSKETCH
Fernando Garcia Menendez is an associate professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University. He uses computational modeling to explore interdisciplinary questions related to air pollution, climate change, and environmental policy. His research group’s work focuses on developing tools based on high-performance computing, uncertainty analysis, and integrated assessment modeling to simulate interactions between environmental and human systems. The primary goal of his research is to inform environmental decision-making and policy. Prior to joining NC State, he was a postdoctoral associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received a PhD in environmental engineering from Georgia Tech and completed his MS and BS degrees from Stanford and Tecnologico de Monterrey (Mexico).