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Greg Keoleian
Peter M. Wege Endowed Professor of Sustainable Systems; Co-Director, Center for Sustainable Systems; Co-Director, MI Hydrogen
Sustainable Systems
Climate + Energy
Food Systems
Cities + Mobility + Built Environment
Cross-cutting
Office
3504 Dana
Lab website
About
Dr. Keoleian co-founded and serves as co-director of both the Center for Sustainable Systems and the MI Hydrogen initiative at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on the development and application of life cycle models and metrics to enhance the sustainability of products and technology. He has pioneered new methods in life cycle design, life cycle optimization of product replacement, life cycle cost analysis and life cycle based sustainability assessments ranging from energy analysis and carbon footprints to social indicators. Systems studied include alternative vehicle technology, renewable energy systems such as wind farms, photovoltaics and willow biomass electricity, buildings and infrastructure, information technology, food and agricultural systems, household appliances, and packaging alternatives. More recently, his research interests also focus on analysis and planning of hydrogen ecosystems.
Professor Keoleian currently teaches Sustainable Energy Systems and MS Capstone Projects and co-directs the Engineering Sustainable Systems Dual Degree Program and the Rackham Graduate Certificate Program in Industry Ecology.
Publications
- Zhu, Y., G.A. Keoleian, D.R. Cooper, “The role of hydrogen in decarbonizing U.S. industry: A review”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (2025) 214: 115392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115392
- Christian H., G. Keoleian, R. Rasool, “Scaling up reusable container systems through city-wide centralized collection and washing”, Resources, Conservation and Recycling (2025) Volume 215. Published online Feb 1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108154
- Checkoway, S.M. G.M. Lewis, and G.A. Keoleian, “Carbon and Energy Footprinting across Archetypes for U.S. Maple Syrup Production”, Environmental Science & Technology (2024) 58(49): 21499–21509. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c03067
- Wallington, T. J., M. Woody, G. M. Lewis, G.A. Keoleian, E.J. Adler, J. R. R. A. Martins, M.D. Collette, “Green hydrogen pathways, energy efficiencies, and intensities for ground, air, and marine transportation” Joule (2024) 8(8): 2190-2207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2024.07.012
- Ravikumar, D., G.A. Keoleian, J. Walzberg, G. Heath, M.C. Heller, “Advancing environmental assessment of the circular economy: Challenges and opportunities” Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances (2024) 21 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcradv.2024.200203.
- Woody, M., S.A. Adderly, R.Bohra, G.A.Keoleian “Electric and gasoline vehicle total cost of ownership across US cities". Journal of Industrial Ecology, (2024) 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13463
- Woody, M., Keoleian, G.A. & Vaishnav, P. “Decarbonization potential of electrifying 50% of U.S. light-duty vehicle sales by 2030”. Nat Commun (2023) 14, 7077. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42893-0
- Porras, Gabriela Y., G.A. Keoleian, G.M. Lewis, Seeba, N. (2020) “A guide to household manual and machine dishwashing through a life cycle perspective.” Environmental Research Communications 2(2)024002: 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ab716b
- Arbabzadeh, Maryam, Ramteen Sioshansi, Jeremiah Johnson, and Gregory Keoleian. (2019) “The role of energy storage in deep decarbonization of electricity production.” Nature Communications 10(3413): 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11161-5
Research
- Life cycle assessment of EV battery materials, Sponsor: Ford Motor Company
- Michigan Maritime Strategy, Sponsor: State of Michigan, Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
- Framework for Sustainable Battery Management, Sponsor: Responsible Battery Coalition
- Life cycle assessment of fuel cell and battery electric medium and heavy duty vehicles, Sponsor: Ford Motor Company
- Hydrogen Ecosystem Planning in Southeast Michigan, Sponsor: Electric Power Research Institute
- Life cycle carbon footprint analysis and improvement strategies for US maple syrup production, Sponsor: US Department of Agriculture. (USDA)
- Regional operating cost and total cost of electric vehicles, Sponsor: Responsible Battery Coalition
- MI Hydrogen (https://research.umich.edu/mi-hydrogen/) Sponsor: Office of the Vice President for Research
- Comparative Life Cycle GHG Emissions Analysis of PHEVs and BEVs for Light Duty Truck Applications, Sponsor: Michigan Electric Vehicle Center
Accolades
- 2024 Best Paper Award American Foundry Society Technical Council (Cast Iron Division) (Xongxian Zhu, Gregory Keoleian, Daniel Cooper, “Ductile Iron Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Excel-Based Parametric Model Development and Application” (23-014))
- Reuters Hot List World’s Top 1000 Climate Scientists, 2021
- Environmental Research Letters Best Articles of 2018 (Heller, Martin C., Amelia Willits-Smith, Robert Meyer, Gregory A. Keoleian and Donald Rose. (2018) “Greenhouse gas emissions and energy use associated with production of individual self-selected US diets.” Environmental Research Letters 13(4):1-11)
- Environmental Science and Technology Runner up Best Paper Environmental Policy in 2018 (James H. Gawron, Gregory A. Keoleian, Robert D. De Kleine, Timothy J. Wallington, and Hyung Chul Kim. Life Cycle Assessment of Connected and Automated Vehicles: Sensing and Computing Subsystem and Vehicle Level Effects) .
- Energy and Buildings Best Research Paper Award for 1998-2007 (Schuer, C., G.A.Keoleian, P. Reppe “Life cycle energy and environmental performance of a new university building: modeling challenges and design implications")
- Journal of Industrial Ecology Best Paper Prize (Heller, M.C., and G.A. Keoleian, “Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimates of U.S. Dietary Choices and Food Loss.” Journal of Industrial Ecology (2015) 19(3): 391–401) announced in 2017.
- Rackham Master’s Mentoring Award, Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan, 2015
Education
PhD, University of Michigan (chemical engineering)
MSE, University of Michigan (chemical engineering)
BSE, University of Michigan (chemical engineering)
BS, University of Michigan (chemistry)
Affiliations
- University of Michigan Electric Vehicle Center, LCA/TEA Tech Lead (2023-current)
- National Science Foundation Engineering Directorate Advisory Committee (2022-current)
- International Society for Industrial Ecology, Member and President (two year term: 2011-2012).
- President Elect (2009-2010); Immediate Past President (2013-2014).
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