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

AI, Defense Spending Fuel the Rush to Mine Minerals, Report Says 7/14/2026

AI, Defense Spending Fuel the Rush to Mine Minerals, Report Says

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Ian Lange contributes to this article about how the global mining industry says more extraction of rare earth minerals is necessary to fight climate change. But a new report says conventional industries, AI and defense are driving much of the demand.  July 14, 2026.

Bridging Energy and Decarbonization with Deb Ryan 7/10/2026

Bridging Energy and Decarbonization with Deb Ryan

The Payne Institute is a proud partner with the Mines Future Energy Scholar Mackenzie Marquis to present her interview with Deb Ryan, Swan Mountain Advisory Founder and CEO, discussing carbon markets, decarbonization, and how emissions reduction is becoming part of the future of energy careers.  July 10, 2026.

How China Turned the Strait of Hormuz Crisis into an Advantage 6/23/2026

How China Turned the Strait of Hormuz Crisis into an Advantage

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian and Fellow Jamie Webster write about how China spent decades building energy resilience through stockpiles, manufacturing dominance, and strategic partnerships. For China, the Iran war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz are not a shock like that facing Japan, South Korea, or India. Instead, it is a live test of a completely different model of energy security. June 23, 2026.

Why the world needs more copper 6/3/2026

Why the world needs more copper

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian’s recent research on copper is featured in this article about how copper demand is rising faster than the world’s mines can supply it, creating a growing challenge for electrification, industry, and future economic growth.  June 3, 2026.

Wyoming’s uranium mining industry is making a comeback 6/2/2026

Wyoming’s uranium mining industry is making a comeback

Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian is featured on this podcast about how this year, the federal government invested billions into the uranium supply chain, Six mines are operating, up from three in 2021 — and much of it in Wyoming.  June 2, 2026.

Geochemical monitoring for carbon capture and storage projects: Quantifying risk through statistical methods 5/24/2026

Geochemical monitoring for carbon capture and storage projects: Quantifying risk through statistical methods

Payne Institute Geothermal and Low Carbon Technologies Program Manager Anna Littlefield, Alexis Navarre-Sitchler, and Joel Moore write about how carbon capture and storage (CCS) offers a practical approach for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  The research analyzes publicly available, long-term (more than 3 years) geochemical datasets, focusing on alkalinity, to evaluate statistical methods for assessing geochemical anomalies. May 24, 2026.

Proposed Bill Would Stop Eminent Domain for Carbon Dioxide Pipelines in Illinois 5/19/2026

Proposed Bill Would Stop Eminent Domain for Carbon Dioxide Pipelines in Illinois

Payne Institute Geothermal and Low Carbon Technologies Program Manager Anna Littlefield contributed to this article about how following success halting multiple carbon dioxide pipeline projects, a local coalition in central Illinois wants to stop the use of eminent domain for these potentially dangerous pipelines.  May 19, 2026.

Power under pressure 5/19/2026

Power under pressure

Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Paulo Cesar Tabares-Velasco contributed to this article about how climate-driven forces have become recurring stress tests for the vast network that powers homes, emergency services, industry, national defense and more.  May 19, 2026.

More than a one-size-fits-all solution 5/19/2026

More than a one-size-fits-all solution

Payne Institute Faculty Fellows Jennifer Miskimins and Jenifer Shafer contribute to this article about how as the U.S. pursues greater energy independence and abundance, Colorado School of Mines researchers are leading the way in delivering practical, scalable solutions in energy technologies.  May 19, 2026.

How Europe’s Carbon Tax is Reshaping Mineral Markets 4/15/26

How Europe’s Carbon Tax is Reshaping Mineral Markets

Payne Institute Student Researcher Sravan Lavudya and Geothermal and Low Carbon Technologies Program Manager Anna Littlefield write how across the global minerals sector, from mines in Australia to refineries in Brazil and smelters in South Africa, a new force is reshaping the landscape.  It is not being driven by markets or technology but by policy coming out of Brussels. April 15, 2026.

Colorado Is Emerging As An Energy Innovation Hub 4/12/2026

Colorado Is Emerging As An Energy Innovation Hub

Colorado School of Mines has long been admired for its work in the energy industry through top-ranked programs in geology, mining engineering, petroleum engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, and others.  It has also led training in cross-disciplinary areas with the Payne Institute for Public Policy and a new Energy and Minerals Research Facility expected to open next year in partnership with the US Geological Survey.  April 12, 2026.  

Read All News