Energy Security & Resilience

Global research and analysis on energy risks ranging from climate change to resource competition to population and demand growth to governance and infrastructure investment

Nearly two billion people around the world live in areas and regions that suffer from conflict violence and instability. As we design new energy systems in the developing world, there are energy security and resilience challenges unique to each local environment. This is also true in developed nations that are now going through energy transitions and are creating infrastructure with new renewable energy options. The optimal electrification mix is sensitive to each local environment.

The Payne Institute is recognizing these sensitivities by connecting the breadth of engineering experience across the energy system at the Colorado School of Mines with the public policy world making decisions on energy infrastructure. By taking a comprehensive look at environmental, economic, political and other elements in each local environment, The Payne Institute is supporting the design and creation of secure and resilient energy systems throughout the globe.

NEWS

Government stockpiles of metals, materials could aid clean energy transition 9/4/2024

Government stockpiles of metals, materials could aid clean energy transition

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian on a podcast discussing the history and possible future directions of critical minerals stockpiling for energy transitions and national security. Some experts argue that the NDS, U.S. National Defense Stockpile, could be mobilized against another threat — climate change — by helping to transform the nation’s energy infrastructure. September 4, 2024.

The US government should build a Resilient Resource Reserve for wartime and peacetime 8/29/2024

The US government should build a Resilient Resource Reserve for wartime and peacetime

Payne Institute Communications Associate Gregory Wischer and Director Morgan Bazilian write about how if Congress proceeds—as it should—with creating a Resilient Resource Reserve, it should establish a physical stockpile that can meet the critical mineral demands of the US military in a major conflict, as well as influence domestic mineral prices to incentivize expanded US mineral production. August 29, 2024.

Understanding the Significance of China’s Antimony Export Controls 8/22/2024

Understanding the Significance of China’s Antimony Export Controls

Payne Institute Communications Associate Gregory Wisher and Director Morgan Bazilian write about how the Chinese government will probably continue to allow some antimony exports to the United States, sending a retaliatory signal but also keeping the U.S. reliant on Chinese mineral supplies. August 22, 2024.

Geological Storage Risk Mitigation: The Way Forward 7/29/2024

Geological Storage Risk Mitigation: The Way Forward

Payne Institute Program Manager Brad Handler, Lindene E. Patton, and student researcher Siddhant Kulkarni write the fifth and last paper in a series that identified the operational, financial and business model risks through the lifecycle of a geological storage project. These papers then discussed steps that are being taken to mitigate each risk, as well as to ensure that adequate funds are available to pay for closure and for environmental damages should any occur. In addressing these risks, this series averred that the regulatory landscape appears adequate to address them. July 29, 2024.

Long Term Stewardship: Releasing Residual Liability 7/29/2024

Long Term Stewardship: Releasing Residual Liability

Payne Institute Program Director Brad Handler, student researcher Siddhant Kulkarni, and Lindene Patton write the fourth paper in a series of papers on the use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as a climate mitigation tool envisions the permanent underground storage of CO2. In a carbon geological storage project, the final phase is referred to as Long Term Stewardship (LTS). It follows the Post Injection and Site Care (PISC) phase, i.e., after the injection well has been plugged, the developer has monitored the subsurface for any CO₂ leaks for the prescribed period, and the site has been “closed.” July 29, 2024.

Monitoring China’s Mineral Stockpiling and Understanding Its Military Implications 7/26/2024

Monitoring China’s Mineral Stockpiling and Understanding Its Military Implications

Payne Institute Communication Associate Gregory Wischer and Director Morgan Bazilian co-author an article about discerning when China is stockpiling – and why – is increasingly challenging given China’s increasing secrecy about mineral-related information. Concerns continue apace about the meaning of China stockpiling minerals. In addition to China’s government statements and military activities, stockpiling minerals is one potential indicator that China may be preparing for a military invasion of Taiwan. July 26, 2024.

Readying for war or being prepared for crises? China’s stockpiling of resources raises eyebrows and questions 7/18/2024

Readying for war or being prepared for crises? China’s stockpiling of resources raises eyebrows and questions

Payne Institute Fellow Gregory Wischer contributes to this article about how while China’s stockpiles are a tightly guarded state secret, analysts CNA spoke to agree that a heightened degree of resource amassing is being carried out, citing recent news reports. Grain, oil, copper, cobalt and iron ore are some of the key resources and minerals China has recently been amassing, in an alleged pattern of behaviour that has blared red for some observers and rival superpower the United States. July 18, 2024.

RADIOACTIVE 7/17/2024

Radioactive

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Ian Lange contributes to this article about how Energy Fuels Inc., a Denver company, is seeking to mine uranium near the Grand Canyon — and an Indigenous tribe’s long fight to stop it. Prices for uranium rose enough for the company to seek to bring uranium ore to White Mesa from one of the company’s mothballed uranium mine sites. July 17, 2024.

Mineral Supply Chains and Space Assets 7/9/2024

Mineral Supply Chains and Space Assets

Payne Institute Fellow Gregory Wischer, Gregory Autry, and Director Morgan Bazilian write about how both the United States and China seek to build and deploy significant numbers of space assets, most of which are mineral intensive. The mineral compositions of three important space assets—satellites, direct-ascent antisatellite weapons, and rocket bodies—require the United States to import minerals, particularly from China, for their construction. Consequently, the US space industry, and thus the US government, faces the associated risks of supply chain disruptions that can restrict mineral availability and cause price volatility, negatively impacting space asset production. This article proposes three policies to mitigate such risks to the mineral supply chains. July 9, 2024.

Comparable to Germany before World War II? China’s strategic metal reserves have attracted attention, especially copper and cobalt 6/20/2024

Comparable to Germany before World War II? China’s strategic metal reserves have attracted attention, especially copper and cobalt

Payne Institute Communications Associate Greg Wischer contributes to this article about how China’s control and reserves of key mineral resources such as rare earths, lithium, copper (Copper) and cobalt (Cobalt) have increasingly attracted the attention of the United States and the West. In addition to worries about being too dependent on China for key minerals, China’s control and reserves of key minerals also make the United States and the West worried that China is preparing for a potential war. June 20, 2024.

Read All News

For more information about the Energy Security & Resilience Research Area at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, please contact our Deputy Director, Gregory Clough, at gclough@mines.edu.