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
The 2025 Economic Report of the President
The 2025 Economic Report of the President
A Payne Institute article from Fellow Alex Gilbert, Director Morgan Bazilian, and Samantha Gross titled “The Emerging Global Natural Gas Market and the Energy Crisis of 2021-2022” was cited in the 2025 Economic Report of the U.S. President. January 10, 2025.
Mines professor working to slow methane leaks in natural gas production
Mines professor working to slow methane leaks in natural gas production
Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Dorit Hammerling co-founded Energy Emissions Modeling and Data Lab (EEMDL) to directly implement processes to detect and stop natural gas leaks, and to provide accurate data and modeling on the greenhouse gas emissions occurring across energy supply chains. January 9, 2025.
BP’s largest terminal in Azerbaijan hit gas-flaring record in 2024
BP’s largest terminal in Azerbaijan hit gas-flaring record in 2024
Payne Institute Earth Observation Group provided the flaring data for BP’s largest terminal in Azerbaijan, Sangachal, which flared record-breaking amounts of gas in 2024 with their VIIRS Nightfire service. This data is based on Suomi NPP satellite imagery gathered by NASA/NOAA/US Defence Department, which uses infrared imaging to detect gas flaring. January 9, 2025.
Why it might be hard for Trump to reverse Biden’s offshore oil ban
Why it might be hard for Trump to reverse Biden’s offshore oil ban
Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian is featured on this podcast about how Joe Biden has promised to ban drilling in more than 600 million acres off the coast of the western U.S. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has promised to undo the ban, as well as much of Biden’s climate and conservation efforts. Thing is, this one might be a little trickier to reverse, because Biden can make this declaration thanks to a 70-year-old law called the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. January 7, 2025.
Leadville and other Colorado communities stand to benefit as president signs Good Samaritan Mining Act
Leadville and other Colorado communities stand to benefit as president signs Good Samaritan Mining Act
Molly Morgan, and Payne Institute Faculty Fellows Elizabeth Holley and Nicole Smith write about how getting the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act legislation through Congress was a critical step forward in addressing one of the nation’s longest-standing environmental challenges. January 2, 2025.
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.