Who We Are

The Colorado State University Energy Institute is a horizontally-integrated organization within the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) with a mission to develop energy and carbon solutions at-scale that achieve global impact. Our pillars include:

  • carbon and energy solutions,
  • experiential learning, and
  • entrepreneurial scale up.
Drawn images depicting clean energy research

To fulfill our mission, we:

  • Conduct research and development across a wide-range of disciplines on a host of energy and carbon solution topics spanning fundamental science to deployment at-scale.
  • Provide financial and staff support to a large and diverse group of faculty affiliates within the University’s eight Colleges who develop and manage large, interdisciplinary energy and climate solutions research centers and programs, both domestic and international.
  • Convene and mobilize interdisciplinary teams across CSU; identify and engage prospective industry partners; and provide funds and strategic program development support to high-priority proposal efforts.
  • Sponsor and manage a portfolio of experiential learning programs that prepare CSU students for careers in energy and related cleantech industries. Programs include:
  • An interdisciplinary minor in sustainable energy available to all CSU undergraduates;
  • Faculty-led research & industry-embedded internships;
  • Graduate fellowships for underrepresented populations;
  • Multiple education abroad programs, and
  • Leadership opportunities in student-led organizations.
  • Serve as a local, regional, and national convener and host of in-person and virtual conferences, workshops, webinars and other events focused on thought-provoking energy and climate topics.
  • Bundle and deliver a suite of programs aimed at helping CSU faculty and students commercialize technologies and start companies in the cleantech space. The Energy Institute provides prize money for best-in-class undergraduate research and budding student entrepreneurs; financial support in the form of cost-share for state-funded commercialization grants; research-to-market training for university teams planning to start companies; travel funds for entrepreneurs to conduct customer discovery interviews; mentors, seed grants, and physical space for new start-ups; and referrals to cleantech incubators, accelerators, and industry associations as companies mature.
  • Infuse supplemental capital into Energy Institute programs, initiatives, and facilities by cultivating relationships with external sponsors, industry partners, donors, and NGOs, among others.
Illustrated Ecosystem Map, showing the interconnections between the energy supply (fossil fuels and renewables), energy conversion and storage (hydrogen and batteries), energy transmission and distribution (methane and powerlines), and energy end-use (transportation and buildings). The impacts of the energy supply are also illustrated with the greenhouse effect (carbon dioxide and methane) and natural carbon uptake (trees, algae, farming, etc).