rwmccarthy@ucdavis.edu
Office Telephone (530) 754-4408

For my most recent research projects and results, please click here to visit my page on the Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways (STEPS) Program website .

Background

Ryan came to the Institute in the Fall of 2002 directly from his undergraduate studies at the University of California, San Diego where he studied structural engineering and political science.  In March of 2005, he received his Masters degree from UC Davis in Civil and Environmental Engineering.  For his thesis work, Ryan developed a methodology to assess the reliability of energy systems in terms of availability, vulnerability, and energy security, and applied it to hydrogen pathways.  He is now pursuing his PhD, researching the impacts of alternative transportation fuels on electricity and natural gas systems.

Research Interests

Impacts of alternative transportation fuels on energy supply and emissions.  A shift away from petroleum-based fuels in the transportation sector -- to biofuels, electricity, or hydrogen -- could integrate fuel supplies with electricity and natural gas systems, potentially leading to new supply strategies throughout the energy sector.  Ryan is investigating the impacts that alternative transportation fuel supplies might have on electricity and natural gas systems in California, and the associatied implications for energy costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource consumption.

Hydrogen Supply Reliability.  Ryan developed a methodology to assess reliability in hydrogen energy systems based on expert ratings of reliability metrics relating to availability, vulnerability, and energy security.  The method can be applied to other fuels and energy systems, as well.

Research Docket

Selected Publications

McCarthy, R.W; Ogden, J.M. and Dan Sperling (2007).  "Assessing reliability in energy supply systems."  Energy Policy, 35(4): 2151-2162.                 (Energy Policy website)

McCarthy, R.W. (2004). A Methodology to Assess the Reliability of Hydrogen-based Transportation Energy Systems. ITS-Davis, UCD-ITS-RR-04-36, December (Master’s Thesis). 

Adame, C.; Caldwell, M.; Crosby, J.; Glanville, P.; Gonzalez, M.; Heffner, R.; Heinen, K.; McCarthy, R. and Jonathan Weinert. (2004) Eno Hydrogen Fueling Center, submittal in Response to First Annual University Student Hydrogen Design Contest, Proceedings of the 15th Annual U.S. Hydrogen Conference and Hydrogen Expo USA, Los Angeles, CA, April 26-30.

Recent Presentations

McCarthy, Ryan; Yang, Christopher; and Joan Ogden (2007) "Emissions impacts of marginal electricity demand for CA hydrogen supply pathways," 18th Annual NHA Hydrogen Conference, San Antonio, TX, March 19-22.

Yang, Christopher; McCarthy, Ryan; and Joan Ogden (2006) “Modeling inputs:  Energy scenarios.”  Presentation to the Technical Advisory Committee of the Advanced Energy Pathways Project, California Energy Commission, Sacramento, CA, November 9.

McCarthy, R.W.; Yang, C. and Joan M. Ogden (2006). “Assessing strategies for fuel and electricity production in a California hydrogen economy,” Proceedings of the 17^th Annual NHA Hydrogen Conference, Long Beach, CA, March 12-16.

McCarthy, R.W. and Joan M. Ogden (2006) “Assessing reliability in transportation energy supply pathways:  A hydrogen case study,” Proceedings of the 85^th Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting, Washington, DC, January 22-26.

Education

PhD student, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis.  Ryan is currently pursuing his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Davis.  He was the recipient of the 2005/2006 CH2M Hill Transportation Technology Fellowship.

MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, 2005.  Ryan received his Masters degree from UC Davis in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a focus on transportation.  For his thesis, Ryan developed a methodology to assess reliability in energy systems, and applied it to hydrogen pathways.  He was an NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program (IGERT) Fellow from October 2002 to September 2004.

BS, Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 2002.  Ryan graduated with honors with a major in Structural Engineering and a minor in Political Science. While at UC San Diego, he interned with California Department of Transportation and Structural Engineers, Inc., served as an undergraduate research assistant in the Charles Lee Powell Laboratories, was awarded an undergraduate research internship at Stanford University through the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER), and received the American Society of Civil Engineers Charles A. Smith Memorial Scholarship. He is also a member of Tau Beta Pi and the Golden Key national academic honor societies.

Activities and Interests

Ryan enjoys working with kids, and spent three years volunteering and coordinating educational outreach programs in the San Diego area.  He has also coached youth basketball and would like to coach high school football some day.  When not researching energy-related issues, Ryan organizes intramural sports teams and Wiffleball tournaments within the Institute, and hangs out with his nieces and nephews.

Recent Quarterly Reports

Winter 2006
Spring 2006
Summer 2006
Fall 2006