Education for Sustainability Field and Category

Emcee: Debra Poneman

Dr. Steffen Mueller is a Principal Research Economist for the Energy Resource Center at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UIC. His current research interest focuses on efficient energy utilization in order to reduce energy consumption and emissions. The following areas are the focus of Dr. Mueller’s research:

Energy System Technologies
Dr. Mueller is a recognized expert in the field of industrial energy system economics. He has broad experience with a diverse set of energy feedstocks including natural gas, coal, biomass, and biogas. He has worked for six years for the US Department of Energy Midwest Combined Heat and Power Application Center. As part of this Center he has performed numerous engineering and economic assessments to evaluate the feasibility of distributed energy systems for industrial and commercial clients. Recently, he has authored a series of studies on the economics of different ethanol plant energy systems.

Environmental Compliance
Steffen Mueller’s research also includes air emissions and other regulatory compliance requirements for distributed energy systems. He has authored a Guidebook on environmental permitting requirements for natural gas and fuel oil fired distributed generation systems. He has also modeled the air emissions impact of the Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard on the Midwest Region. Recently, Dr. Mueller has completed several studies that assess the global warming intensity of corn ethanol from different production pathways.

Energy Infrastructure Resource Assessment
Steffen Mueller has authored various economic studies that assess the resource potential for various distributed energy systems. Most notably, he has co-authored a key study in support of the Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard titled “The Economic and Environmental Impacts of Clean Energy Development in Illinois.”

Prior to joining UIC, he was manager of business development for Calpine Corporation/Skygen Energy where he oversaw energy sales, natural gas procurement, and developed financial analyses for merchant power/co-generation projects.