# Startup Powers Data Centers With Supercritical CO2

> Startup uses supercritical CO2 to boost data center efficiency without emissions.
- Title: Startup Powers Data Centers With Supercritical CO2 · WIRED
- Summary: Startup uses supercritical CO2 to boost data center efficiency without emissions. American Supercritical's retrofit tech increases gas turbine efficiency by…
- Keywords: american supercritical, data centers, supercritical co2, gas turbines, efficiency, emissions, water use, ai race, geothermal, nuclear, Startup, Powers
- Source: WIRED — https://wired.com/story/startup-power-data-centers-supercritical-co2
- Author: Molly Taft
- Published: 2026-09-23T11:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: american supercritical, data centers, supercritical co2, gas turbines, efficiency, emissions, water use, ai race, geothermal, nuclear
## 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
## Key takeaway

American Supercritical's retrofit tech increases gas turbine efficiency by up to 50% while cutting emissions and water use.