A new supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) power generation technology is helping convert industrial waste heat into clean electricity at Shougang Shuicheng Iron & Steel in Liupanshui, southwest China’s Guizhou Province.

The project, known as “Chaotan One,” recently connected its second 15-megawatt generator to the grid, becoming the world’s first commercial-scale demonstration project using sCO₂ to recover industrial waste heat.

The first unit, which began commercial operation in December 2025, has generated more than 32.85 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in six months. Once both units reach full capacity, they are expected to produce about 15 million kilowatt-hours monthly.

Unlike conventional systems that use water and steam, the technology uses carbon dioxide in a supercritical state to transfer energy, improving efficiency and reducing energy losses. Electricity generation is about twice that of conventional advanced waste-heat recovery systems in the steel industry.

The compact system also requires less land and fewer cooling facilities, making it suitable for mountainous areas and energy-intensive industries. At full operation, the project is expected to save electricity costs and cut more than 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The technology could also be applied to other industries with medium- and high-temperature waste heat, as well as concentrated solar power and energy-storage systems.

Source: People’s Daily