Global Energy Future Initiative
Connecting energy innovators,
industry leaders and policy makers
to advance scientific, data-driven solutions
for the global energy future
The Future of Energy is Now, at Mines
Join the Mines Global Energy Future Initiative as we bring together global energy thought leaders and world-class Colorado School of Mines faculty through research, education, workshops, seminars and outreach.
Why Mines Global Energy Future Initiative?
Governments and industry around the globe are pursuing increasingly ambitious initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diversify their energy portfolios, all while the world is facing significant growth in energy demand from emerging and developing economies. On these complex issues, Mines has a unique combination of expertise with the depth to meet the energy challenges head on. Mines has an exceptional track record of solving tough scientific and engineering problems across the gamut of energy and environmental fields. The university enjoys a hard-earned reputation as an unbiased problem-solver in disciplines often at odds in the energy-environment discussion; the university tagline, “Earth, Energy, Environment” is an accurate reflection of our expansive and growing purview.
With partners from academia, industry, government, and civil society galvanized by Mines’ uniquely comprehensive expertise, we’re developing energy solutions that will shape decision-making, now and in the decades to come.
Impactful Hubs
Low Carbon and Renewable Energy
Developing renewable, secure, resilient, and adaptive energy infrastructure that fosters economic growth while reducing environmental impact
Carbon Capture Utilization & Storage (CCUS)
Multidisciplinary approach to scientific, engineering and policy research on net zero emissions technological innovations
Clean Water Innovations
Role of technology innovation in reimagining global water in the future energy system
Minerals & Metals
Finding solutions to meet the minerals and metals needs to create our future energy system, including sustainable mining practices; technological innovations in mining; and the role of markets, economics and policy
Oil and Gas
Designing interdisciplinary research focused on the science, engineering and policy of oil and gas in the net-zero energy future
Supply Chain Transparency
Understanding how the future energy system will impact the global supply chain and the associated effects on markets, communities and the environment
Upcoming Events
Latest News
Policy, Regulatory, and Market Viability (Part 2)
DEMYSTIFYING HYDROGEN – Policy, Regulatory, and Market Viability (PART 2)
Payne Institute CCUS Program Manager Anna Littlefield and Student Researcher Siddhant Kulkarni write about how hydrogen is emerging as a cornerstone of global energy policy, with nations across the world setting ambitious goals to integrate hydrogen into their clean energy strategies. In Part One of this two-part commentary, they explored the production pathways and associated ‘color wheel’ of hydrogen, in addition to applications and methods for transporting and storing hydrogen. Building on that foundation, here we explore the policy incentives, regulatory frameworks, and the viability of hydrogen markets. November 13, 2024.
What could the Trump administration’s mineral policy look like? 11/12/2024
What could the Trump administration’s mineral policy look like?
Payne Institute Communications Associate Gregory Wischer and Director Morgan Bazilian write about how the incoming administration would likely implement a mineral policy to increase US mineral production—especially extraction—while supporting American workers and companies. Specifically, this mineral policy could include imposing tariffs, streamlining permitting, and financially incentivising domestic mineral projects. November 12, 2024.
Gas Pathing: Improved Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimates of Liquefied Natural Gas Exports through Enhanced Supply Chain Resolution 11/5/2024
Gas Pathing: Improved Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimates of Liquefied Natural Gas Exports through Enhanced Supply Chain Resolution
Selina A. Roman-White, Deeksha Mallikarjuna Prasanna, Amber McCullagh, Payne Fellow Arvind P. Ravikumar, David Thomas Allen, Kavya Chivukula, Harshvardhan Khutal, Paul Balcombe, Gregory Ross, Payne SFL Program Manager Brad Handler, Director Morgan Bazilian, and Fiji C. George write about how the utilization of greenhouse gas (GHG) life cycle assessments (LCAs) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has increased over the past decade. In this study, a novel framework for improved supply chain-specific LCAs for GHGs is presented using a gas pathing algorithm aligned with how gas is purchased, sold, and transported within the U.S. November 5, 2024.
Carbon Credits for Mitigating Orphan & Idle Oil Well Methane Emissions 11/1/2024
Carbon Credits for Mitigating Orphan & Idle Oil Well Methane Emissions
Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Jim Crompton, Sustainable Finance Lab Program Manager Brad Handler, and Student Researcher Vandan Bhalala write about how it is well understood that permanently plugging old, abandoned oil and gas wells in the U.S. can make a big impact in our nation’s efforts to combat global warming. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, public funding has increased to properly plug many orphan wells. November 1, 2024.
China Tightens Its Hold on Minerals Needed to Make Computer Chips 10/26/2024
China Tightens Its Hold on Minerals Needed to Make Computer Chips
Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Rod Eggert contributes to this article about how Beijing, already the dominant producer of rare minerals, is using export restrictions and its power over state-owned companies to further control access. In a series of steps made in recent weeks, the Chinese government has made it considerably harder for foreign companies, particularly semiconductor manufacturers, to purchase the many rare earth metals and other minerals mined and refined mainly in China. October 26, 2024.
Why Mines?
Since 1874, Mines has been a pioneer at the frontiers of science and engineering, from locating and recovering earth resources, to energy production, to environmental stewardship.
Over time, Mines’ expertise expanded to meet the changing needs of industry and society, playing key roles in the growth of the global energy and natural resource industries. We are now positioned to leverage that deep expertise through a data-driven approach to informing the global energy future, in collaboration with academia, industry, government and civil society partners.
Leadership
John Bradford
Vice President for Global Initiatives
For more information about the Mines Global Energy Future Initiative at the Colorado School of Mines, please contact our Director, John Bradford, at jbradford@mines.edu.
Mines@150
As Colorado School of Mines approaches our sesquicentennial, we are ideally suited to lead this initiative. Our bold and ambitious MINES@150 strategic plan builds on the exceptional legacy of our PAST, the ways we impact the PRESENT and the POSSIBILITIES of our global energy future.