From WIRED · Molly Taft · · 1m 10s
Startup Powers Data Centers With Supercritical CO2
Startup uses supercritical CO2 to boost data center efficiency without emissions.
In brief
Startup uses supercritical CO2 to boost data center efficiency without emissions. American Supercritical's retrofit tech increases gas turbine efficiency by up to 50% while cutting emissions and water use. Originally reported by WIRED.
New startup launches
American Supercritical announced $8 million funding for retrofitting data center gas turbines.
“We want to start with gas turbines but eventually expand beyond that”
Data centers use inefficient turbines
Most US data centers use simple-cycle turbines that convert only 35% of energy to electricity.
“Usually, only about 35 percent of the energy from simple-cycle turbines is converted to electricity”
Supercritical CO2 tech
Carbon dioxide becomes supercritical when pressurized and held at a certain temperature.
“In this state, it gets the density of liquid but still behaves like a gas”
Boosts efficiency without emissions
The technology increases turbine efficiency by up to 50% without adding emissions or water use.
“By American Supercritical’s math, adding supercritical CO2 units could increase turbines’ efficiency by up to 50 percent”
Closed-loop system
CO2 operates in a closed-loop system that doesn’t require refilling.
“The CO2 involved operates in a closed-loop system, meaning that it doesn’t have to be refilled”
Retrofitting data centers
American Supercritical plans to sell 10-megawatt units for retrofitting existing gas turbines.
“We’re essentially building miniature combined-cycle plants”
Challenges ahead
Technical hurdles and high costs delay widespread adoption of supercritical CO2 technology.
“Cost has been a huge issue”
Market potential
Global data centers will invest $7 trillion by 2030, creating demand for efficient power solutions.
“There’s this incredible willingness to pay [for power], but they’re bottlenecked”
Future applications
The technology could work with geothermal, nuclear, and solar energy sources.
“We just need to get something hot, and then we can convert that into electricity”
What it means
American Supercritical's retrofit tech increases gas turbine efficiency by up to 50% while cutting emissions and water use.
