China has launched the world’s first commercial power unit that uses supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) technology, marking an advance in clean energy. Developed by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), this system replaces traditional steam with high-pressure CO₂ to convert waste heat from steel production into electricity.
• The initial setup is at the Shougang Shuicheng Steel complex in Guizhou, utilizing two 15-megawatt units connected to the grid.
• This technology is expected to be 50% more efficient than conventional steam-based systems.
• It operates on a Brayton-cycle loop, enhancing energy conversion efficiency beyond 50% while minimizing the size of turbines and components.
• The technology can harness the high temperatures from steel sintering and has potential applications in advanced nuclear reactors and solar power systems.
• The project has been in development for over ten years, achieving full-power laboratory operation in 2019.
In addition, similar sCO₂ projects are being tested globally, such as one in Texas supported by the US Department of Energy.
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