A Startup Wants to Power Data Centers With ‘Supercritical’ Carbon Dioxide

American Supercritical raised $8 million to retrofit simple-cycle gas turbines in data-center power plants with supercritical CO2 units that recover exhaust heat for extra electricity. The closed-loop CO2 system can increase turbine efficiency by up to 50%, reduce water use, and add no extra greenhouse-gas emissions while the turbines continue to burn natural gas. The company will launch a 10-megawatt retrofit kit and plans to expand beyond gas turbines.