Transforming energy through discovery and innovation
Energy research at the 鶹Ƶ aims to advance basic and applied energy science, engineering and analysis through research, education and partnerships.
Transforming energy through discovery and innovation
Energy research at the 鶹Ƶ aims to advance basic and applied energy science, engineering and analysis through research, education and partnerships.
At CU Boulder, research faculty from a broad spectrum of disciplines collaborate to advance renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies.
Energy research at CU Boulder is sparking commercial opportunity, driving global impact, and shaping tomorrow’s leaders in the field.
Researchers at CU Boulder are empowered to explore new areas of energy science by leveraging resources and talents across the university’s dedicated institutes.
In the last 5 years, energy research at CU Boulder has sparked:
82
inventions
46
U.S. patent applications
25
technologies licensed or optioned
5
new startups
Dr. Dragan Maksimovic's research is developing a new modular power conversion approach for electric vehicles that uses both silicon and wide-band gap devices to address the fundamental power conversion, loss and component stress mechanisms.
Zhiyong Jason Ren is refining a method topurify wastewater by using an electrochemicalreaction that absorbs more CO2 than it releases,creating renewable energy in the process. Thisenergy-positive, carbon-negative method couldpotentially contain huge benefits for manyemission-heavy industries.
ALD Nanosolutions (ALD = “AtomicLayer Deposition”) spun out ofthe labs of Chemical EngineeringprofessorsAl Weimer andSteveGeorge. A major focus for thecompany’s lead technology—aproprietary process for creatingsub-nanometer coatings onbattery electrodes—is improvingthe performance, efficiency anddurability of rechargeable lithium ionbatteries, which are commonly usedin home electronics.
Dr. Julie Lundquist is helping improvewind forecast models, enabling morereliable and efficient energy productionfrom wind turbines. Advances from herwork could set up wind farms and powergrid operators to be more successful,while lowering costs for consumers.
Dr. Gregor Henze’s research explores methodsto achieve greater system efficiencies throughenhanced integration of buildings with electric gridoperations. Such integration could allow buildings toactively participate in energy markets, which in turncan enable greater amounts of renewable generationby creating elasticity in the demand for electricity.
A team of CU Boulder, NIST and NOAA researchers led by Dr. Greg Rieker successfully developed a long-range methane leak detection system capable of scanning several square miles in just a few minutes. The team formed a Colorado-based commercial spin-out company to transition the technology to market.
A software program with high commercial potential, NEWS optimizes the use of windand solar-generated electricity by accounting for the effects of national weather patterns. The program was developed through a collaborative effort between CU Boulder’s and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).