The Climate Innovation Collaboratory

News from the Collaboratory

The Climate Innovation Collaboratory (CIC) is a nationally competitive,convening body that enables climate action with global, real-world impact through technology and market development.

Deloitte and the University of Colorado Boulder launched the Climate Innovation Collaboratory to translate cutting-edge climate research and data into meaningful climate solutions for businesses, organizations, government agencies and communities.

2024-2025 Deloitte & CU Boulder Climate Innovation Collaboratory Research Awards

These long-term engagements between Deloitte and CU Boulder expand access to critical climate data analytics, research and technology to build innovative and meaningful approaches to help clients become more climate resilient.

Sustainable Computing

Interconnection Planning for Large Data Centers

Principal Investigator: Bri-Mathias Hodge
Summary: Develop a system planning tool to automate the initial processes needed for utilities to identify generation expansion, network reinforcement, and asset upgrades to meet the demands of new data centers.
Value: Important, tactical work to help utilities, grid operators, and data center operators deal with the expansion in the number and energy usage of data centers. Applicable at state, local and international levels.

Viability of Long- and Short-Duration Energy Storage for AI Data Centers: Carbon, Cost and Reliability

Principal Investigator: Kyri Baker
Summary: Develop an optimization framework for data center energy storage that leverages price and renewable forecasts to co-optimize cost, carbon, and resiliency goals.
Value: A tool that optimizes data center energy storage would be relevant to commercial data center clients and government clients seeking to lower data center consumption.

Sustainable Building Materials

Framework for Mix Design Relations of Low-Embedded Carbon using Local Materials

Principal Investigator: Mija Hubler
Summary: Develop a framework that will facilitate the use of new low-embedded carbon materials by providing criteria for assessing the impacts of local aggregates and additives on strength.
Value: Understanding the correct way to mix low-embedded carbon cement with local materials is a major barrier to the widespread deployment of these new materials. Opportunity to pitch web-based tool to DOE with CU-B as national center of excellence that tests new cements.

EV Infrastructure

EV Infrastructure and Local Economic Spillovers

Principal Investigator: Stephanie Weber
Summary: Understand both how the construction of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure affects the surrounding areas as well as the tradeoffs associated with prioritizing equity in public charging location.
Value: National and state governments are very interested in supporting the deployment of EV charging stations to incentivize EV adoption, but often struggle with where to place them. This research would help governments better understand the non-monetary impacts of building EV chargers.

Focus Areas

Support

government organizations in addressing climate change by working collaboratively and applying problem-solving scientifically rigorous technologies

Create

bold, innovative, intentional, and scalable climate solutions and technologies that can be implemented with speed and security

Integrate

to help form new partnerships across the public and private sector, driving the future of business

Develop

educational programs and a talent pipeline with diverse perspective, skill sets, and backgrounds to accelerate positive climate outcomes

Meaningful Collaboration

The Climate Innovation Collaboratory is working towards the coordination of engagement, communication, and response to external opportunities with existing CU Boulder research institutes and centers:

Together we are building an experienced climate workforce and driving innovative solutions to address climate science challenges across sectors.

Questions?

Please reach out to climatecollab@colorado.edu.

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