American Supercritical, a new company, has emerged with an innovative plan to enhance the efficiency of gas turbines used in data centers by utilizing liquid carbon dioxide. The company, which recently secured $8 million in funding, aims to retrofit these turbines to generate more power without increasing emissions, although the turbines will still emit carbon pollution. This technology, which can be applied to various energy sources, is particularly relevant as power demand rises. Data centers often use simple-cycle turbines, which are less efficient than combined-cycle plants, converting only about 35% of energy into electricity. American Supercritical’s approach involves using supercritical CO2, which can efficiently transfer energy and reduce water use, to create additional electricity from the turbines’ hot exhaust. This method essentially creates miniature combined-cycle plants, potentially reducing the environmental impact of data centers.
QUESTION: How might the adoption of supercritical CO2 technology in data centers influence future energy policies and environmental strategies?
A Startup Wants to Power Data Centers With ‘Supercritical’ Carbon Dioxide
