Low Carbon Energy Technologies

Multidisciplinary approach to scientific and engineering research on Low Carbon Energy Technological innovations, coupled with crosscutting work on policy, markets, and regulation

Multidisciplinary approach to scientific and engineering research on Low Carbon Energy Technological innovations, coupled with crosscutting work on policy, markets, and regulation

Low Carbon Energy Technologies can be applied across the energy system. The Colorado School of Mines has directly relevant science and technology expertise that spans from fundamental chemistry through reactor engineering. There are on the order of 30-50 faculty actively engaged with areas related to one or more aspects of the Low Carbon Energy Technologies chain.

Most, if not all, CO2 reduction to fuels or chemicals depends on catalytic hydrogenation or dehydrogenation processes. Thus, the design, synthesis, and implementation of selective catalysts are essential aspects of CO2 utilization for the production of value-added chemicals. As a practical matter, cost-effective and timely technology development depends on closely coordinated multidisciplinary research and engineering.

Through collaboration and research Colorado School of Mines and the Payne Institute are connecting the technical expertise on campus related to Low Carbon Energy Technologies with industry, government and civil society to increase awareness of the opportunities related to CCUS. Maintaining the focus of the University as a leader at the frontiers of science and engineering, related to earth, energy and environmental stewardship.

For more information about the Low Carbon Energy Technologies Initiative at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, please contact our Deputy Director, Gregory Clough, at gclough@mines.edu.

NEWS

Better Together: The Case for Cooperative Regionalism in U.S. Energy Policy 4/3/2025

Better Together: The Case for Cooperative Regionalism in U.S. Energy Policy

Payne Institute Low Carbon Energy Technologies Program Manager Anna Littlefield, Student Researcher Siddhant Kulkarni, and Accelerated Methane Reduction Initiative Director Simon Lomax write about how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin recently announced plans for the most significant rollback of federal regulations in U.S. history, a critical question emerges: Will delegating power to states foster innovation and economic growth or could it jeopardize essential protections for public health, safety, and the environment? April 3, 2025.

Industry Anticipates Geothermal Energy Growth Burst in the US 3/6/2025

Industry Anticipates Geothermal Energy Growth Burst in the US

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian contributed to this article about how the US is hoping to take a cue from the nation of Iceland, which powers most of its electrical grid with geothermal energy, proponents say they expect a U.S. rampup as projects receive closer attention from the fossil-fuel sector, investors and the government.  March 6, 2025.

Building Lower-Carbon Industry Is About Future-Proofing Our Economy 3/5/2025

Building Lower-Carbon Industry Is About Future-Proofing Our Economy

Charles McConnell and Payne Institute Accelerated Methane Reduction Initiative Director Simon Lomax write about how a growing number of states, regions, and countries are demanding lower-carbon products.  There are proven technologies that can reduce the carbon intensity of essential products and future-proof American industry – but perhaps none more critical to broadly deploy than carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS).  March 5, 2025.

Developing Measurement-Informed Methane Emissions Inventory Estimates at Midstream Compressor Stations 2/28/25

Developing Measurement-Informed Methane Emissions Inventory Estimates at Midstream Compressor Stations

Payne Institute Fellow Arvind Ravikumar, Hugh Li, Shuting Lydia Yang, and Mackenzie Smith write about natural gas transmissions and storage compressor stations accounting for the largest share of anthropogenic methane (CH4) emissions in New York State (NYS).  Yet, NYS’s CH4 emissions inventory is based on measurements that are a decade old and potentially unlikely to be representative of NYS operations. February 28, 2025.

Trump’s Chaotic Agenda Has a Critical Through Line 2/26/25

Trump’s Chaotic Agenda Has a Critical Through Line

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian contributes to this article about the whirlwind that has been U.S. President Donald Trump’s first month back in the Oval Office, analysts, officials, and diplomats have scrambled to understand the returning U.S. leader’s scattered—and often outlandish—foreign-policy fixations. February 26, 2025.

The Troubled Energy Transition 2/25/25

The Troubled Energy Transition

Payne Institute Advisory Board member Atul Arya wrote this article with Daniel Yergin and Peter Orzag about how in 2024 global production of wind and solar energy reached record levels—levels that would have seemed unthinkable not long before. Over the past 15 years, wind and solar have grown from virtually zero to 15 percent of the world’s electricity generation, and solar panel prices have fallen by as much as 90 percent. February 25, 2025.

Space-Based Solar Power: The Future of 24/7 Clean Energy Generation 2/18/2025

Space-Based Solar Power: The Future of 24/7 Clean Energy Generation

Payne Institute Fellow Alex Gilbert is contributes to this article discussing the technology that makes endless solar power within reach with a field of solar panels floating silently in the endless day of Earth’s orbit. This space-based solar power (SBSP), is a technology that could revolutionize how clean energy is generated and distributed.  February 18, 2025.

The Future of Carbon Dioxide Removal 2/17/2025

The Future of Carbon Dioxide Removal

Ben Tourkin, Nomadic Venture Partners (NVP), writes about the role that removal of atmospheric carbon will play in a global net-zero roadmap. From high-level market dynamics to comparisons of specific technologies and investment pathways, this exploration reflects a broad yet practical approach to understanding the opportunities and hurdles in this field.  February 17, 2025.  

Advancing Co2 Separation and Capture in Post-Combustion Scenarios Using Resonant Vibration Techniques 2/24/2025

Advancing Co2 Separation and Capture in Post-Combustion Scenarios Using Resonant Vibration Techniques

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Amirhosein Riahi, Julie Muretta, and Richard LaDouceur write about how carbon dioxide (CO2) requires specialized capture methods for effective mitigation. Biochar has garnered significant interest as a versatile, porous solid adsorbent due to its cost-effective production, thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability, and minimal environmental impact. However, its small surface area and diffusional issues result in slow CO2 adsorption kinetics and limited capacity, hindering widespread adoption.  February 14, 2025.

CRITICAL MINERALS SUPPLY CHAIN: ROLE AND IMPACT OF ASM 2/6/2025

CRITICAL MINERALS SUPPLY CHAIN: ROLE AND IMPACT OF ASM

Payne Institute Critical Minerals Program Manager Clarkson Kamurai, Student Researchers Isabel Guajardo and Grace Akinyi, Energy Finance Lab Director Brad Handler and Faculty Fellow Ian Lange write about how a significant increase in the supply of dozens of so-called “critical minerals” will be needed in the coming decades, for uses ranging from defense to no- and low-carbon energy. Mineral endowment and production capacity have therefore become crucial assets for developing economies. Yet one set of the stakeholders — artisanal and small-scale mining (collectively referred to here as ASM) — tends to be overlooked and may prove to be crucial.  February 6, 2025.

Payne Institute for Public Policy to convene on minimizing methane emissions

Payne Institute for Public Policy to convene on minimizing methane emissions

The Payne Institute for Public Policy at Colorado School of Mines is pleased to announce two upcoming events focused on strategies to reduce methane emissions in the production and distribution of natural gas. These events will bring together experts from industry, academia and policy organizations to discuss emerging technologies, data science, market trends and regulatory developments in methane management.  January 31, 2025.
Managing Methane: Technology and Markets in an Evolving Regulatory Landscape – Webinar – February 12, 2025.
Accelerated Methane Reduction Symposium – March 6 and 7, 2025.

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