Innovating energy solutions—it's who we are.

UC Davis is a global trailblazer in accelerating the development and commercialization of sustainable energy technologies and solutions. There is no better place for you to gain the educational and hands-on experiences you need to tackle the energy industry challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

Why UC Davis?

First, a brief history: We opened our doors in 1908 as the University Farm, the research and science-based instruction extension of UC Berkeley. As the century evolved, our mission expanded beyond agriculture to match a larger understanding of how we should be serving the public. By 1959, UC Davis had grown into a general campus with its own personality and strengths.

Over the years, as our geographical footprint developed, each new UC Davis presence—in Tahoe, Sacramento, Bodega Bay, Tulare, San Diego, San Francisco, Chile and China, just to name a few—has strengthened our ability to serve the public through research, academics and public service.

Today, our talented researchers and students are more likely to collaborate than compete—interdisciplinary teamwork is the name of the game. This friendly approach has led to an incredibly rich campus community that turns big ideas into real solutions, particularly in the sustainable energy field.

The campus is a living laboratory dedicated to teaching, developing, testing and providing solutions to address the world’s most pressing issues.

It's no wonder that UC Davis has earned the title "Greenest University in the United States"—for the eighth year in a row—according to the 2023 UI GreenMetric World University rankings.

Pioneering Energy Solutions

Anchored by the Energy and Efficiency Institute, UC Davis focuses on meeting critical energy challenges and improving energy use through research, education and engagement. The Institute is home to innovative research centers and programs and hosts an interdisciplinary graduate program in energy systems—including many grad students who collaborate with MBAs in the Sustainable Energy Industry Immersion.

Graduate School of Management faculty also examine various aspects of the energy industry. For example, Professor David Woodruff, who specializes in computational aspects of optimal decision making, has worked on applications in operations, logistics, science, and has been involved recently in a number of applications in electrical energy planning and scheduling. Currently, he is working with researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to enhance open-source software used for optimization when the input data are uncertain. 

"One target is to be able to optimize large economic models of electricity generation and delivery infrastructure. Another target is to be able to optimize electric grid planning, management, and operation. This work also involves collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory."

— Professor and Associate Dean David Woodruff

Campus and Regional Collaborations

UC Davis Energy Efficiency Institute

The Energy and Efficiency Institute at UC Davis is a leading university institution advancing impactful energy and energy efficiency solutions. The Institute focuses on addressing critical energy challenges and improving energy use through research, education and engagement. It is home to innovative research centers and programs in buildings, transportation, water, and agriculture and food production; has more than 50 affiliated faculty; and host an interdisciplinary graduate program in energy systems. Visit website

Sustainable UC Davis

Providing vision, direction and support for sustainability in all its dimensions across the campus enterprise, UC Davis Sustainability represents and supports the larger university community who work together to achieve sustainability goals, advance our scientific understanding of sustainability challenges, and educate for a sustainable future. Get involved and learn more. Visit website

UC Davis Energy Graduate Group

In the Sustainable Energy Industry Immersion you'll have the opportunity to team up on interdisciplinary teams of graduate students from the UC Davis Energy Graduate Group, which offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Energy Systems with two tracks of study: Energy Science & Technology and Energy Policy & Management. These students have access to cutting-edge research centers and programs, and close partnerships throughout the energy industry. Visit website

Mike and Renee Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Through multiple programs, workshops, academies, events and other collaborations, the Institute help researchers find a path to commercialization—and help students develop the entrepreneurial mindset needed to solve our world’s challenging social and economic problems. The Institute's Big Bang! Business Competition invites energy related new ventures to enter and awards specific prize money to the top energy and sustainability startup. The Institute also selects Business Development Fellows, researchers from across UC Davis, including from energy related fields, to take new business development and entrepreneurship classes alongside MBA students. Visit website

Big Bang! Business Competition

These challenging times call on us to create new solutions to our world's complex problems. The Big Bang! competition helps you to grow as an entrepreneur and as a leader. You'll find opportunities to connect with fellow innovators, learn and apply business concepts in educational workshops, build your team, grow your network—and compete for cash prizes. Energy + Sustainability is one key sector that Big Bang! awards exclusive prize money. Visit website

Clean Start

Founded in 2005, CleanStart is a nonprofit that empowers entrepreneurs with the knowledge, capital, and connections that are critical to creating a successful new business. They do this by connecting, promoting, and educating startups and innovators in the 10-county Central Valley region of California. They offer a range of services designed to support entrepreneurs and businesses in the cleantech sector. Visit website

UC Davis Venture Catalyst

UC Davis is known worldwide for its leadership in research. Each year this research leads to new innovations and technologies that are translated to the marketplace through UC Davis startup companies. Venture Catalyst drives the successful development of new ventures based on UC Davis intellectual property through its collaborations, programmatic activities, and outreach efforts. VC offers several innovative programs that bridge the gap between early-stage research and commercialization by enabling and supporting robust university startups and spin-outs. Visit website

Student Club: Net Impact Graduate Chapter at UC Davis

Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a network of business leaders who use the power of business to create a positive net social, environmental and economic impact. Like-minded MBA students, many of whom take the Sustainable Energy Industry Immersion, lead the very active and engaged UC Davis chapter. Learn more.