Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS)
Leading the energy transition by addressing one of society’s grand challenges
Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS)
Leading the energy transition by addressing one of society’s grand challenges
Building an Integrated Initiative
There is unprecedented interest in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), carbon management, negative emissions and deep decarbonization worldwide. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine have identified carbon sequestration as one of society’s grand challenges, and multiple national labs and the U.S. Department of Energy have significant ongoing work in the area. The need for detailed scientific and engineering research, coupled with cross-cutting work on policy, markets and regulation is critical.
Colorado School of Mines is a top technical research university in areas related to energy, natural resources and environment. A public university with a strong emphasis on applied research and educating students to help lead the energy transition, Mines is actively engaged in areas related to one or more aspects of the CCUS chain and faculty provide relevant expertise that spans from fundamental chemistry to reactor engineering and cultivate a collaborative working environment across disciplines.
Areas of CCUS Research at Mines
Chemistry graduate student Darius Hayes works in the glovebox in the McGuirk Lab, which focuses on interdisciplinary research at the interface of synthetic chemistry and materials science — including carbon capture.
Geologic Reservoir Characterization and Storage
- Fluid-rock interactions to evaluate carbon mineralization
- Geochemical indicators of CO2 leakage
- Geophysical quantification of CO2 in place
- CO2 storage capacity in the seal and reservoir formations
- CO2 leakage into the seal formation
Decarbonizing Industrial Operations
- Mining
- Manufacturing (cement, steel)
Capture
- Capture membranes
- Chemical looping
- Carbon capture in concrete
- Blue hydrogen
- Biocapture
Utilization
- Upgrade captured CO2 to commodity chemicals
- CO2 to fuels
- EOR
Capture Policy and Economics
- Carbon pricing
- Industry CCUS policy
- Regulatory approaches to CCUS
- Data analytics for characterizing successful CCUS projects
CCUS Focused
Research Consortia and Centers
Mines CCUS Innovation Center
The Mines CCUS Innovation Center is an independently sponsored research center that highlights applied research whose goal is reducing greenhouse gas emissions by millions of metric tons, and enabling communities to transition toward zero-emissions energy generation utilizing multidisciplinary teams of engineering students.
STATE OF COLORADO CCUS TASK FORCE
The State of Colorado has teamed up with Colorado School of Mines to help identify the development & utilization of a Task Force as an important step to better understand the role that carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) can play in meeting the state’s emissions targets. The evaluation will include an inventory of existing initiatives and recent publications that analyze or identify carbon capture, transport, utilization, and storage opportunities in Colorado.
CCUS Focused
Educational Programs
CARBON CAPTURE, UTILIZATION AND STORAGE ONLINE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
As the interest in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) continues to grow around the world, so does the need for qualified professionals with unique faculty to take on the challenge. Mines’ CCUS graduate certificate program fills that need. By bringing together our world-renowned knowledge in the earth sciences, engineering and economics and business fields, the CCUS program enables students to explore the unique challenges around carbon sequestration, climate change and the energy transition while acquiring the skills needed to advance their career.
Upcoming Events
Latest News
- Kickstarting VCM crediting for orphan oil wells 11/20/2024
- Policy, Regulatory, and Market Viability (Part 2)
- Carbon Credits for Mitigating Orphan & Idle Oil Well Methane Emissions 11/1/2024
- Demystifying Hydrogen: Production Pathways, Applications, Storage & Transportation (Part 1) 10/24/2024
- FINANCING OPTIONS & LIABILITY MANAGEMENT IN CCS 10/24/2024
Leadership
Learn More
For more information about Integrated Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) at the Colorado School of Mines, please contact Global Initiatives Director John Bradford, at jbradford@mines.edu.
Manika Prasad
Director, Mines Integrated CCUS Initiative
Anna Littlefield
Program Manager, Mines Integrated CCUS Initiative and Payne Institute for Public Policy