Electrical Engineering

Better batteries

Hanna Nordwall — Fri, 29 May 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Better batteries Hanna Nordwall Fri, 05/29/2026 - 12:00

Susan Glairon

Illustrations by Hanna Nordwall

Improving energy storage is key to the renewable grid. Here’s how CU Engineering is getting us there

CU Engineering researchers are working to solve one of the biggest challenges facing renewable energy: affordable, reliable energy storage.

In 2025, solar and wind accounted for roughly 90 percent of newly installed U.S. power capacity, according to a report by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. While renewables offer the most affordable source of new electricity and deliver emissions-free power, their dependence on weather and daylight makes energy storage essential to grid reliability, said Mike Toney, a professor of chemical and biological engineering.

“Better batteries will be critical to shifting our energy infrastructure away from fossil fuels.”

“There’s a need for inexpensive and safe energy storage to support renewable energy,” Toney said. “Better batteries will be critical to shifting our energy infrastructure away from fossil fuels.”

Challenges

Current battery technologies rely on materials with ethical, geopolitical and safety concerns, with end-of-life disposal posing environmental risks, Toney said.

Lithium-ion batteries are popular because they’re affordable, widely available, and can smooth out short-term fluctuations. But as more renewable energy is added to the grid, these batteries will be less suited to its demands, said Bri-Mathias Hodge, a professor of electrical, computer and energy engineering who uses computational simulations to study reliable and economical future power systems.

Hodge said that because solar and wind output change rapidly with weather and time of day, within the next decade the grid will need longer-duration storage capable of delivering electricity instantly.

“Most researchers agree it needs to be longer than 10 hours,” Hodge said.

Beyond lithium

Toney’s lab is working on one possible solution. He and his team study how electrolytes function in aqueous zinc-metal batteries, which use widely available materials — unlike lithium-ion batteries. They’re also researching sodium-ion batteries, which are inexpensive and also use abundant materials.

Associate Professor Chunmei Ban’s research focuses on what she calls “beyond lithium” battery technologies, including sodium and solid-state batteries for renewable energy and electric vehicles.

Ban, a mechanical engineer, explains that much of the supply chain for lithium batteries, including raw materials and manufacturing equipment, is concentrated outside the U.S. This makes it difficult for the U.S. to independently produce lithium batteries at scale and creates vulnerabilities in resource and technology access.

“Developing new battery materials is a very challenging and resource-intensive process,” Ban said. “Progress takes time because creating and testing new materials requires extensive modeling, material optimization and trial and error. Out of millions of possible compounds, only a small number are currently identified as suitable for batteries.”

“Developing new battery materials is a very challenging and resource-intensive process.”

Despite these challenges, Ban’s lab has successfully developed several new materials in under three years. They are being commercialized through her lab’s spinoff company, Mana Batteries.

These materials, such as new electrolytes for sodium batteries, are now being used in manufacturing and could support a wide range of applications — from grid-scale energy storage to vehicles and electronics.

“The discovery, design and synthesis of new materials present exciting opportunities for developing long-lasting and low-cost energy storage solutions for grid and vehicular applications,” Ban said.

Kimberly See will join CU Boulder faculty in August 2026 as a Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute fellow with an appointment in chemical and biological engineering. The See Group is looking to replace metals like cobalt and nickel with more sustainable options such as iron in lithium-ion batteries to lower cost while improving safety.

“Current lithium-ion technology provides the energy density needed for diurnal cycling (charging when solar power is abundant and discharging at night), but high costs and safety concerns limit widespread grid deployment,” See said.

Beyond batteries

Another possible solution can be found in Ankur Gupta’s lab. Gupta is researching supercapacitors — energy storage devices that charge quickly and last longer than traditional batteries.

Beyond the lab

Solid Power, a CU Engineering spinout founded by mechanical engineers, went public in 2021. It is now an industry-leading developer of next-generation all-solid-state battery technology, with major partnership deals with BMW and Ford and a manufacturing facility in Thornton, Colorado. It also boasts many CU Engineering alumni among its employees.

While supercapacitors are not known for storing energy for long periods, they could help manage grid fluctuations. During sudden spikes or drops in electricity demand, supercapacitors could rapidly supply or absorb power to stabilize the grid.

“The primary appeal of supercapacitors lies in their speed,” said Gupta, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering.

In the end, which type of storage technology prevails all boils down to cost, Hodge said. “The uncertain costs of future storage technologies make it impossible to predict which technology will ultimately dominate.”

Improving energy storage is key to the renewable grid. Here’s how CU Engineering is getting us there

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CU Boulder to host International Workshop on Biodesign Automation this June

Charles Ferrer — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:34:11 +0000

CU Boulder to host International Workshop on Biodesign Automation this June Charles Ferrer Tue, 04/07/2026 - 12:34

CU Boulder will host the 18th International Workshop on Biodesign Automation (IWBDA), June 18–20, following the SEED Conference in Denver. The workshop brings together researchers and industry leaders advancing biodesign automation in synthetic biology.

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Scientists harness AI to reveal forces behind glacier surges

Charles Ferrer — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:27:27 +0000

Scientists harness AI to reveal forces behind glacier surges Charles Ferrer Thu, 03/05/2026 - 08:27

Glaciers are constantly changing and reshaping the Earth’s surface. CU Boulder researchers have developed a new machine learning tool to better understand how Arctic glaciers suddenly accelerate or “surge”.

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Researchers build ultra-efficient optical sensors shrinking light to a chip

Charles Ferrer — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 15:36:56 +0000

Researchers build ultra-efficient optical sensors shrinking light to a chip Charles Ferrer Mon, 02/23/2026 - 08:36

CU Boulder researchers have built high performing optical microresonators opening the door for new sensor technologies. In the future, the microresonators could be used for compact microlasers, advanced chemical and biological sensors and even tools for quantum metrology and networking.

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3 with ties to CU Engineering elected to National Academy of Engineering

emad5542 — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:19:25 +0000

3 with ties to CU Engineering elected to National Academy of Engineering emad5542 Thu, 02/12/2026 - 10:19

Dana Anderson, Iain Boyd and Bob Erickson are among the 130 scientists and engineers from around the country who will be inducted as members of the NAE at a meeting this fall.

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How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break

Charles Ferrer — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:53:18 +0000

How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break Charles Ferrer Thu, 02/05/2026 - 08:53

Aoife Henry (PhDElEngr‘24) is leading Zentus, a startup she founded that addresses a critical challenge in the energy sector: how to prevent costly equipment failures that can bring wind and solar farms offline without warning.

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Dennis J. Pretti (ElEngr'95)

miwi9607 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:00:32 +0000

Dennis J. Pretti (ElEngr'95) miwi9607 Mon, 02/02/2026 - 11:00

Dennis J. Pretti, 2026 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award Recipient

Engineering Alumni Awards

2026 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award recipient

Pretti received a BS degree in electrical engineering from CU Boulder in 1995. He began his career at Micron Technology Inc. in Boise, Idaho, in 1995, working as a parametric test device engineer in Boise’s high-volume manufacturing facility until 2000. From 2000 to 2022, Pretti designed parametric test devices used for process development in technology development. In 2000, he developed and led a team of test device design engineers until 2013. From 2013 to 2019, his work focused on CMOS automation, test device and optical design quality. From 2019 to 2022, his efforts were centered on test device and optical design roadmap pathfinding initiatives. In 2022, he shifted his focus to STEM outreach (K-12), university technical engagement and the development of Micron team member technical engagement and career pipeline opportunities.

Pretti joined the Technical Leadership Program (TLP) community in 2015 as a senior member of technical staff, where he has held various roles of leadership, influence, mentoring, technical expertise and innovation. He became Micron’s technical ambassador for CU Boulder in 2018, holding this role today. Pretti actively contributes to CU Boulder, serving on the ECEE External Advisory Board since 2022 and joining the Engineering Advisory Council in 2024. He holds one U.S. patent and has five publications.

Dennis J. Pretti (ElEngr'95) spent over 25 years at Micron advancing parametric test design, automation, and optical roadmap work before shifting to STEM outreach and university partnerships. A senior member of Micron’s Technical Leadership Program and the company’s technical ambassador to CU Boulder, he serves on multiple advisory boards and has authored several publications and a U.S. patent.

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An earthquake on a chip: New tech generates tiny waves, could make smartphones smaller, faster

Charles Ferrer — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:37:17 +0000

An earthquake on a chip: New tech generates tiny waves, could make smartphones smaller, faster Charles Ferrer Wed, 01/14/2026 - 14:37

A team of engineers has developed a new device that works like a laser but, instead of light, generates incredibly small vibrations called surface acoustic waves.

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Inside the Internship: Kylie Auerbach, Texas Instruments

Michelle Wiese — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:04:29 +0000

Inside the Internship: Kylie Auerbach, Texas Instruments Michelle Wiese Wed, 01/14/2026 - 10:04

Kylie Auerbach
Senior, Electrical Engineering
Texas Instruments Systems Marketing Engineer Intern

Taking Initiative at Texas Instruments

In summer 2025, Kylie Auerbach (ElEngr'26) interned at Texas Instruments as a systems marketing engineer, where she was pushed technically, given a huge amount of autonomy, and understood what it felt like to work on the next generation of semiconductor technology.

“Getting to turn my technical work into tangible assets for the customers was amazing. It was fast-paced, collaborative, and exactly the kind of engineering environment that makes me excited to build a career in this field.” – Auerbach

Whether she was debugging the motor control boards or preparing for a customer webinar, Auerbach saw how valuable she could be to the project by coming in with potential solutions, organized data and next steps ready to go. She liked to stay one step ahead by doing more than what was expected and constantly listening for the next thing she could add value to.

Connecting Beyond the Project

Beyond the technical side, Auerbach emphasized the importance of building relationships.

“I would tell other students to be incredibly intentional about building relationships during their internship,” she said. She set a goal to schedule at least one networking lunch every week, allowing her to connect with engineers and mentors across the company.

“There will never be another time in your career when people are this open and willing to help you – take advantage of it.” – Auerbach

Get Involved

Kylie’s story highlights the impact of hands-on industry experience. The Engineering Career Hub is here to support students every step of the way—from resume reviews and mock interviews to internship connections and career fairs.

Learn more about how the Engineering Career Hub can support your journey.

Read more Inside the Internship stories.

Electrical Engineering student, Kylie Auerbach (ElEngr'26), stepped into the fast-paced world of semiconductor technology as a systems marketing engineer intern at Texas Instruments.

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Inside the Internship: Gabriel Wardall, Lockheed Martin Space

Michelle Wiese — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:27:40 +0000

Inside the Internship: Gabriel Wardall, Lockheed Martin Space Michelle Wiese Tue, 01/13/2026 - 11:27

Gabriel Wardall
Senior, Electrical Engineering
Lockheed Martin Electrical Engineer Technician

From Lawns to Launch Systems

Gabriel Wardall (ElEng'26) has used his experience and expertise from all aspects of life to gain career success. Wardall interned with Lockheed Martin's Deep Space Exploration division for the past four years as an electrical engineer technician, landing the role by giving back to his community. Wardall is a prime example of utilizing your resources and connections wisely.

Wardall attributes his success in landing his internship to networking with next-door neighbors. Reaching out to neighbors in his community for recommendations and reconnecting with neighbors whose lawns he mowed in high school resulted in being able to network directly with managers who had a say in the hiring process. His time and participation in clubs and non-profits further prepared him for landing his internship. A combination of giving back to his community, hard work, and reaching out to anyone he thought could provide a meaningful connection led to his breakthrough.

“It honestly takes so much to get started on communicating or getting a network, but once you get one they can help you in so many ways. I built my network before, during, and after my internship. You never know who your friends or coworkers know, and it does not hurt to ask.” – Wardall

Efficiency and Excellence

Above all else, Wardall highlights the importance of proving your worth in the workplace. While networking got his foot in the door, working efficiently is what led him to continue interning with Lockheed Martin's Deep Space Exploration division for four consecutive years.

"Focus on delivering quality work consistently and being someone your team can rely on. That's what turns a summer internship into a four-year relationship." – Wardall

Wardall took on a multitude of projects at Lockheed, from building spacecraft simulation hardware to assembling test stands and inflatable habitats. Although his title was Electrical Engineer Technician, shifting priorities and national policy often pushed his work into systems-focused tasks. However, Wardall made do by taking away new experiences with Linux systems, electrical simulation behavior, data analysis and working on multiple projects at once in a corporate environment.

Making Every Connection Count

His involvement in clubs and non-profits during college didn't just build his resume – it expanded his circle of connections and taught him how to work collaboratively.

His four-year journey with Lockheed Martin's Deep Space Exploration division stands as proof that success comes from the combination of genuine relationships, consistent excellence, and a willingness to take on new challenges, even when they look different than what you originally expected.

Get Involved

Gabriel’s story highlights the impact of hands-on industry experience. The Engineering Career Center is here to support students every step of the way—from resume reviews and mock interviews to internship connections and career fairs.

Learn more about how the Engineering Career Hub can support your journey.

Read more Inside the Internship stories.

Electrical engineering student, Gabriel Wardall (ElEng'26), turned community connections into a four-year internship with Lockheed Martin’s Deep Space Exploration division.

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