Advanced Energy

 

From discovery to deployment across next-generation energy systems

To solve industry’s toughest energy challenges—from grid resilience to low-carbon fuels and electrification at scale—CU Boulder integrates:

  •   Engineering

  •   Materials science

  •   Power systems

  •   Advanced manufacturing

  •   Climate science

Strategic Focus Areas

Grid Modernization & Resilient Energy Systems Electrification: Power Electronics, Distributed Generation & Mobility Fuels, Industrial Decarbonization & Manufacturing Climate, Carbon Management & Earth Systems
Grid Modernization & Resilient Energy Systems

  Grid Modernization & Resilient Energy Systems

Core Challenges

  • Aging transmission infrastructure
  • Increased vulnerability to extreme weather events and cyberattacks
  • Increased demand for electricity from data centers, electrification, and heating/cooling
  • Hazardous materials in manufacturing & materials waste

CU Capabilities

  • Energy systems multi-scale modeling
  • AI-driven optimization of storage & generation
  • Grid-edge intelligence & sensing
  • Advanced Materials from bio-based low toxicity materials
  • Cyber-physical systems security

  Electrification: Power Electronics, Distributed Generation & Mobility

Core Challenges

  • Storage limitations (duration, cost, degradation)
  • Materials constraints for batteries and solar
  • Integration challenges at utility scale

CU Capabilities

  • Advanced battery materials (solid-state, next-gen chemistries)
  • Solar materials innovation & performance modeling
  • Biomedical integrated circuits
  • Transportation systems
  • ARPA-E funded modular Universal AC-DC Electrical Power Mover (UPM): fast EV charging, storing energy from solar panels or powering large AI data centers

  Fuels, Industrial Decarbonization & Manufacturing

Core Challenges

  • Materials performance limits under extreme conditions
  • High costs without federal incentives
  • Hydrogen production and storage
  • Sustainable aviation fuels
  • Scaling electrolysis with aging grid
  • Decarbonizing heavy industry (steel, cement, chemicals)

CU Capabilities

  • Research in catalysis, surface science, and reaction engineering
  • Quantum and materials science for energy applications
  • DOE-funded hydrogen & electrochemistry research; engagement with Colorado’s clean hydrogen ecosystem

  Climate, Carbon Management & Earth Systems

Core Challenges

  • Measuring and verifying emissions (MRV challenges)
  • Policy and market uncertainty
  • Scaling carbon capture and sequestration

CU Capabilities

  • Climate risk modeling for infrastructure and operations
  • Satellite based climate and emissions monitoring

World Class Research Institutes & Talent

Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)

Partnership with NOAA focused on understanding the Earth system through satellite data

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI)

Joint Institute with NLR (National Laboratory of the Rockies)

Colorado Power Electronics Center (COPEC)

Smart power electronics combined with analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits design

JILA

Joint institute with NIST exploring frontier physics, quantum, and materials research

Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP)

Leadership in Earth observation

Partnerships

 

Eavor

Geothermal feasibility studies

 

U.S. Department of Energy

Frontier Research Center participation, hydrogen and electrochemistry research

 

NIST, NCAR & NOAA

Partnerships for global reputation in climate modeling and earth systems science

Power Electronics Research Groups

Robert Erickson

Modeling and design of components and systems

Dragan Maksimovic

Achieving significant system-level advances in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources via smart power electronics

Bri-Mathias Hodge

Modeling and simulation of power and energy

Power Electronics Research Hubs

Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure (ASPIRE)

Multi-institutional NSF-funded partnership with $26M center; explores a diverse range of transportation questions, from electrified highways that energize vehicles to the placement of charging stations, data security and workforce development
 

ATLAS Institute

Brings together engineers, designers, scientists, and artists to explore at the edges of their fields, creating tangible and digital tools and methods that redefine how people interact with the world for a sustainable future

Future-Ready Workforce

Hands-On Education at Scale
Graduate & Professional Programs
  • Power Electronics Engineering and Subplans including Next-Gen Power & Energy Systems 
  • Master of Science in Sustainability Masters of the Environment Program
  • Natural Resources, Energy & Environmental Law

Energy Spin-Outs

 

MANA

Pioneering sodium-based battery technology that rivals lithium-ion batteries in energy density at 35-75% of the cost, focusing on safety and long cycle life

 

Solid Power

Transforming how electric vehicles run with less expensive, more efficient and safer solid-state battery technology
 

Partnering with the Energy Ecosystem

We simplify the path to innovation for our corporate and government partners:

 

Streamlined contracting pathways

Guided by tools to reduce negotiation timelines (e.g. term sheets and modular IP menus)

 

Industry Research Partnerships (IRP)

Dedicated team providing concierge-level support for research collaborations 

 

Talent recruitment, shared facilities and testing services

Access to faculty expertise, unique instrumentation and emerging talent pipelines 

 

Venture Partners at CU Boulder

Campus commercialization arm that spins out startups

Connect with Us

Chris Gustavson

Executive Director, Industry Research Partnerships
RESEARCH & INNOVATION OFFICE
  chris.gustavson@colorado.edu

Kelly Fleming

Associate Director, Advanced Energy & Sustainability
INDUSTRY RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
  kelly.fleming-1@colorado.edu