A supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) power unit has begun commercial operation in Liupanshui, Guizhou Province, in southwest China, marking a global demonstration of the Chaotan-1 waste-heat-to-power project. The plant uses supercritical CO₂ as its working fluid to convert excess industrial process heat into electricity.

Conventional waste-heat steam generation works much like “boiling water,” using heat to produce steam that drives a turbine. Chaotan-1 replaces this steam cycle with a supercritical CO₂ loop—a different working medium that can extract energy more efficiently from high-temperature waste streams.

The new system boosts thermal-to-electric efficiency by more than 85% and increases net power output by over 50% compared with traditional waste-heat steam systems, according to on-site reports. Operators say that commercial operation demonstrates the technology’s transition from laboratory testing to real-world deployment.

Beyond waste-heat recovery, supercritical CO₂ cycles also show promise for applications such as solar thermal power, highlighting broader opportunities for cleaner, higher-efficiency electricity generation.