The MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), MIT’s hub for energy research, education, and outreach, is advancing zero- and low-carbon solutions to expand energy access and combat climate change.
MITEI is a crucial rallying point for MIT researchers and educators who share our vision and commitment to dramatically reduce emissions through the development of novel technologies and delivery of science-based analysis. Together we are dedicated to decarbonizing global energy systems and building upon MIT’s long tradition of working collaboratively and transparently with industry, government, and civil society.
William H. Green, the Hoyt C. Hottel Professor at MIT, was named as MITEI’s fourth director in April 2024, making FY25 his first full year in that role. Carolyn Ruppel (SB, SM ’86, PhD ’92), who had a long research career in energy and climate, most recently at the U.S. Geological Survey, joined MITEI as deputy director of science and technology in March 2025.
With a significant change in leadership—along with the naming of a new director and new deputy director, eight of the 11 leadership team members were new to MITEI or new in their current roles within the last three years—MITEI identified five key priorities in FY25:
- Encourage and help MITEI’s sponsors to fund more energy research with MIT faculty
- Address the challenge of data centers’ energy demand
- Organize the engineering community to do better assessments of new energy technologies
- Make a plan to revitalize energy education at MIT
- Engage more broadly with campus
This report provides more detail about progress on each of these priorities.
