American Supercritical Raises $8M for sCO2 Waste Heat Recovery in Data-Centre Turbines

American Supercritical, a Denver startup, has emerged from stealth with $8 million in pre-seed funding to develop compact supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power units that recover waste heat from data-centre gas turbines. The company plans a 10MW initial unit and estimates efficiency gains of up to 50%, though these are projections, not verified results. The move comes as AI-driven data-centre electricity demand is projected to nearly double by 2030, with many operators turning to on-site gas generation. The sCO2 cycle uses CO2 in a supercritical state to drive a turbine, offering potential improvements in efficiency, compactness, and lower water use compared to steam cycles. However, the technology faces technical and commercial hurdles, including high pressures, heat exchanger reliability, and cost. A separate DOE-supported pilot in San Antonio is testing similar sCO2 systems, but it is not affiliated with American Supercritical. While the startup's first market is U.S. gas turbines, the technology could eventually be relevant for geothermal power generation, which supplies over 40% of Kenya's grid energy. For now, the key question is whether American Supercritical can deliver dependable, economical power from real turbine exhaust at commercial scale.