Background

Ryan's research focuses on interactions between the transportation and electricity sectors in California.  He is investigating impacts of new vehicles and fuels on electricity demand and supply, considering the associated economic, environmental, and resource impacts.  Ryan is pursuing his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering and holds degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering (MS, UC Davis, 2005) and Structural Engineering (BS, UC San Diego, 2002). 

Projects

California electricity dispatch model.  Ryan is developing a model to simulate electricity generation in California on an hourly basis.  It quantifies the impacts of fluctuating demands on electricity supply.  (Complete)

Characterization of the wind energy resource in California.  Ryan has developed a stochastic model to simulate intermittent wind generation in the Altamont, San Gorgoinio, Solano, and Tehachapi regions.  He is investigating the ability of intermittent renewable electricity generation to meet electricity demand loads in the State.

80 in 50 Study.  Ryan is among a team of STEPS researchers investigating options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector in California by 80% below 1990 levels in 2050.  (Complete)

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.  (Complete)

Journal articles

McCarthy, R.W. and C. Yang (2010) "Determining marginal electricity for near-term plug-in and fuel cell vehicle demands in California: Impacts on vehicle greenhouse gas emissions," Journal of Power Sources, doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.10.024 (in press).

Yang, C. and R.W. McCarthy (2009) "Impacts of plug-in electric vehicle charging," EM Magazine, Air & Waste Management Association, June.

Yang, C., McCollum, D.L., McCarthy, R.W., and W.W. Leighty (2009) "Meeting an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by 2050:  A case study in California," Transportation Research Part D: Transport and the Environment, 14(3): 147-156.

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

Reports

McCarthy, R.W. (2009) Assessing Vehicle Electricity Demand Impacts on California Electricity Supply, ITS-Davis, October (Dissertation).

Yang, C., McCollum, D.L., McCarthy, R.W., and W.W. Leighty (2008) Identifying Options for Deep Reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions from California Transportation: Meeting an 80% Reduction Goal in 2050 (Draft Report), Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Research Report UCD-ITS-RR-08-23.

McCarthy, R.W., Yang, C. and J.M. Ogden (2006) California energy demand scenario projections to 2050, Research Report for the Advanced Energy Pathways Project, California Energy Commission, November 7.

McCarthy, R.W., Yang, C. and J.M. Ogden (2006) California baseline energy demands to 2050, Input for the Advanced Energy Pathways Project, California Energy Commission, July.

Unnasch, S., Kitowski, J., Tutt, E., Bartholomy, O., Blackburn, B., McCarthy, R., and D. Modisette (2005) California 2010 Hydrogen Highway Network: Societal Benefits Topic Team Report, March.

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).

Conference papers

McCarthy, R.W., Yang, C., and J.M. Ogden (2009) "Interactions between electric-drive vehicles and the power sector in California," Proceedings of the 24th Electric Vehicle Symposium, Stavanger, Norway, May 13-16.

McCarthy, R.W., and C. Yang (2009) "Integrating intermittent renewable power and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in California," Proceedings of the 88th Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting, Washington, DC, January 11-15.

Yang, C., McCollum, D.L., McCarthy, R.W., and W.W. Leighty (2009) "Identifying Options for Deep Reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions from California Transportation: Meeting an 80% Reduction Goal in 2050," Proceedings of the 88th Annual Transportation Research Board Meeting, Washington, DC, January 11-15.

McCarthy, R.W., Yang, C. and J.M. Ogden (2008) "Interactions between hydrogen pathways and electricity supply: A stochastic representation of the California power sector," Proceedings of the NHA Annual Hydrogen Conference 2008, Sacramento, CA, March 30-April 3.

McCarthy, R.W., Yang, C. and J.M. Ogden (2007) "Impacts of electric-drive vehicles on California's energy system," Proceedings of the 23rd Electric Vehicle Symposium, Anaheim, CA, December 2-5.

McCarthy, R.W., Yang, C. and J.M. Ogden (2007) "Emissions impacts of marginal electricity demand California hydrogen supply pathways," Proceedings of the 18th Annual NHA Hydrogen Conference, San Antonio, TX, March 19-22.

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

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

McCarthy, R.W. and J.M. Ogden (2005) “Assessing reliability in hydrogen supply pathways,” Proceedings of the 16th Annual NHA Hydrogen Conference, Washington, DC, March 29-April 1.

Adame, C., Caldwell, M., Crosby, J., Glanville, P., Gonzalez, M., Heffner, R., Heinen, K., McCarthy, R., and J. 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, Los Angeles, CA, April 26-30.

Education

PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, 2009.  Ryan completed 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 baseball 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 spends time with his nieces and nephews.