Energy Transitions
At Illinois, the future of energy is already taking root.
In a greenhouse just outside campus, a new variety of sorghum grows taller, faster, and richer in oil than any crop before it. Across town, rows of data points flow from campus buildings, powering dashboards that inform everyday decisions about energy use. And in labs, fields, and testbeds across the state, researchers are reshaping how we power our world, working not only to reduce emissions but to reimagine what energy can be. At the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), we believe that energy transitions are more than a technical challenge. They are a chance to transform systems, unlock new science, and create real-world solutions that scale.
Focus Areas
- Agrivoltaics
Studying the co-location of solar panels and crops to improve land-use efficiency, generate renewable energy, and support resilient food systems. - Bioenergy and Bioproducts
Developing sustainable feedstocks and converting biomass into fuels, chemicals, and industrial materials. - Campus Energy Management
Monitoring, reducing, and optimizing energy use in buildings and systems through data dashboards and operational strategies. - Energy Efficiency and Emissions Reduction
Designing and implementing cost-effective solutions for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across Illinois. - Clean Energy Innovation
Advancing technologies and strategies for low-carbon energy systems, including electrification, smart infrastructure, and renewable integration. - Sustainable Infrastructure and Building Design
Modeling energy performance in buildings and integrating climate-responsive design into the built environment.
Featured Researchers & Initiatives
Andrew Leakey
Professor of Plant Biology; Director, Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI)
Professor Leakey leads CABBI, a $262.5 million DOE-funded center focused on growing next-generation bioenergy crops and converting them into sustainable fuels and chemicals. Under his leadership, CABBI has produced 18 patents and pioneered innovations, including high-oil sorghum, drought-resilient miscanthus, and low-emission bioconversion processes.
Learn more about CABBI >>>
Dokyoung “D.K.” Lee
Professor of Plant Biology; Director, Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI)
Professor Lee leads iSEE’s Next-Generation Feedstocks project, which is investigating the benefits of switchgrass and other prairie grasses as affordable, sustainable sources of market-ready biofuels and high-value products.
Impact Highlights
- CABBI scientists have produced 18 patents and innovations, created sorghum that outperforms soybeans in oil content, and mapped the genome of miscanthus for the first time.
- The Illinois Energy Dashboard provides live building-level data on energy use, supporting behavior change and energy planning across campus.
- SEDAC programs have helped Illinois communities and organizations reduce utility bills, modernize infrastructure, and adopt cost-effective clean energy strategies.
Explore More
- Explore our Centers & Initiatives >>>
- Meet our Researchers >>>
- Partner with iSEE >>>