Transforming energy through discovery and innovation
Energy research at the University of Colorado Boulder aims to advance basic and applied energy science, engineering and analysis through research, education and partnerships.
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Faculty Leaders
At CU Boulder, research faculty from a broad spectrum of disciplines collaborate to advance renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies.
Impacting Humanity
Energy research at CU Boulder is sparking commercial opportunity, driving global impact, and shaping tomorrow’s leaders in the field.
Research Institutes
Researchers at CU Boulder are empowered to explore new areas of energy science by leveraging resources and talents across the university’s dedicated institutes.
In the last 5 years, energy research at CU Boulder has sparked:
82
inventions
46
US patent applications
25
technologies licensed or optioned
5
new startups
A Disruptive Approach to Electric Vehicle Power Electronics
Dr. Dragan Maksimovic's research is developing a new modular power conversion approach for electric vehicles that uses both silicon and wide-band gap devices to address the fundamental power conversion, loss and component stress mechanisms.
Energy-Positive Wastewater Treatment
Zhiyong Jason Ren is refining a method to purify wastewater by using an electrochemical reaction that absorbs more CO2 than it releases, creating renewable energy in the process. This energy-positive, carbon-negative method could potentially contain huge benefits for many emission-heavy industries.
Improving Lithium-ion Batteries through Atomic Layer Deposition
ALD Nanosolutions (ALD = “Atomic Layer Deposition”) spun out of the labs of Chemical Engineering professors Al Weimer and Steve George. A major focus for the company’s lead technology—a proprietary process for creating sub-nanometer coatings on battery electrodes—is improving the performance, efficiency and durability of rechargeable lithium ion batteries, which are commonly used in home electronics.
Lowering Energy Costs for Consumers
Dr. Julie Lundquist is helping improve wind forecast models, enabling more reliable and efficient energy production from wind turbines. Advances from her work could set up wind farms and power grid operators to be more successful, while lowering costs for consumers.
Building-to-Grid Model Development for Advanced Sensing in the Distribution Grid
Dr. Gregor Henze’s research explores methods to achieve greater system efficiencies through enhanced integration of buildings with electric grid operations. Such integration could allow buildings to actively participate in energy markets, which in turn can enable greater amounts of renewable generation by creating elasticity in the demand for electricity.
Fugitive Methane Detection Enables Mitigation
A team of CU Boulder, NIST and NOAA researchers led by Dr. Greg Rieker successfully developed a long-range methane leak detection system capable of scanning several square miles in just a few minutes. The team formed a Colorado-based commercial spin-out company to transition the technology to market.
National Energy with Weather Systems Simulation (NEWS)
A software program with high commercial potential, NEWS optimizes the use of windand solar-generated electricity by accounting for the effects of national weather patterns. The program was developed through a collaborative effort between CU Boulder’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).