<p>What is the best department/field of study at Berkeley that would allow someone to learn about or produce alternative energies. I was thinking chemical engineering would be the most relevant...or is it something else?</p>
<p>Berkeley CoE seems to be starting a new major called Energy Engineering. I’m not in CoE, so I’m not very familiar with it, but you can check it out.</p>
<p>[Energy</a> Engineering — UC Berkeley College of Engineering](<a href=“http://coe.berkeley.edu/departments/engineering-science/energy-engineering.html]Energy”>Energy Engineering - Berkeley Engineering)</p>
<p>Energy Engineering is more or less of Mechanical engineering with some other department courses added. There was no new course created exclusive for this major.
The closest major you can do regarding alternative energy is either Civil Engineering with environmental focus or Chemical engineering.</p>
<p>Depending on what area or type of alternative energy you may be looking at, most engineering majors may be applicable.</p>
<p>Civil: infrastructure for alternative energy
Chemical: if you want to make liquid fuel out of something else
Computer: computer controls of power plants, vehicles, etc…
Electrical: electricity generation from whatever source and transmission
Materials: new energy technologies likely need new materials
Mechanical: wind and tidal energy, vehicle design
Nuclear: nuclear energy, obviously</p>