Cross-Disciplinary Research
From studying the impacts of methane emissions to protecting human health and the environment, we bring together diverse people and disciplines to develop solutions to address issues across the energy and climate spectrum.
Learn more about some of the innovative solutions our researchers are exploring below.
The CSU Soil Carbon Solutions Center
Soil is one of the largest natural carbon reservoirs and an important climate mitigation tool that is ready to deploy today. Accelerating the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices that build soil carbon on working lands offers the potential to substantially draw down atmospheric carbon while improving the environmental, economic and social sustainability of food, fiber and bioenergy production. But, this transition needs to use the latest science to predict, measure and quantify drawdown capacity, support agricultural producers and avoid unintended consequences.
CSU’s Soil Carbon Solutions Center leverages world-class expertise to build the tools and approaches needed to accelerate the deployment of credible soil-based climate solutions, measure their impacts and bring them to scale.
The Electric Grid
At the Energy Institute, researchers are engaged in high-profile high-impact sponsored research in the area of Smart Grid and the next generation electricity infrastructure. Research endeavors focus on: distribution system energy management systems; electricity grid modernization in developing economies; microgrids for civilian, military, and disaster recovery domains; renewable energy and technologies integration to grid; and resource allocation and utilization.
Thermal Systems
Thermal systems focus on how heat can be used, stored, transferred and converted into energy. These systems play a role in our everyday lives and are part of why appliances like hot water heaters, air conditioners, and refrigerators work. Larger systems like rocket engines and power plants also employ thermal systems to convert heat into useful energy. From cookstoves in India to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, understanding thermal systems is critical to our modern world.
At the Energy Institute, our experts at REACH CoLab are working to improve upon the efficiency of thermal systems by capturing and excess waste heat and converting it into cooling.
Pipelines
The Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Center (METEC) is a renowned test and research facility in the foothills of Fort Collins. The METEC team develops emissions leak detection and quantification (LDAQ) technology, field demonstrations, hands-on LDAQ equipment training, and protocol and best practices.
Energy access in the developing world
The Energy Institute works to provide energy access in the developing world through faculty and student university exchanges, research, consultant work and spin out companies. All of our work on energy aims to make a positive impact on a global scale. Some of our current projects create cleaner ways of cooking food, harness natural sources of energy (i.e. methane gas or the sun), and bring remote villages power.
Techno-Economic Analysis
Techno-economic analysis examines areas in terms of cost, benefits, risks, uncertainties and timeframes to evaluate the attributes of energy technologies.
At the Energy Institute, research efforts are dedicated to the development of engineering system models validated through experimentation and leveraged for techno-economic evaluation, life cycle assessment, and resource demand of emerging technologies. Results from modeling work are used to focus research and development efforts to high impact areas.