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Abstract
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ExxonMobil Corporate Strategic Research (CSR), based in Clinton, New Jersey, is the cornerstone for fundamental science-based research within the corporation. Research activities cover a broad range of areas, including material science, catalysis, separation sciences, physical and mathematical sciences, hydrocarbon science, biological science, and environmental science. In the Emerging Energy Sciences (EES) section, we are keenly interested in understanding the role that emerging energy technologies may play in shaping the energy landscape in India and elsewhere over the coming decades. Historically, EES has collaborated with many academic research groups in the areas of climate science, environmental life cycle assessment and systems modeling to understand the impacts of different energy pathways. In this presentation, we will discuss recent publications addressing these topics, with special emphases on environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and freshwater consumption associated with shale gas for power generation and algal biofuels for transportation. We will also discuss the group’s contributions to improving LCA methods, including (a) modeling tools for addressing data gaps associated with life cycle inventories for power generation, (b) developing water stress indices for use in robust water “footprinting”, and (c) quantifying uncertainty and variability associated with LCA of power and transportation technologies.