China has operationalised the first commercial supercritical carbon dioxide power generator designed to recover waste heat, potentially transforming decarbonisation strategies for energy-intensive industries.
On 20 December 2025 China brought into commercial operation the first supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power generator designed to recover industrial waste heat, a development industry stakeholders say could reshape medium‑scale decarbonisation options for energy‑intensive sectors.
The demonstration plant, known as “Chaotan One,” is sited at a sinter and steel facility operated by Shougang Shuicheng Iron and Steel in Liupanshui, Guizhou province. The installation comprises two 15 megawatt units that have been tied to the local grid to supply electricity recovered from process heat. According to China National Nuclear Corporation, the deployment marks the first time sCO2 technology has moved from laboratory testing into commercial service. (China National Nuclear Corporation)
Unlike conventional Rankine steam cycles, the sCO2 system operates with carbon dioxide maintained above its critical pressure and temperature so it behaves with both gas‑ and liquid‑like properties. That thermophysical behaviour increases energy density and allows the turbo‑machinery and heat‑exchangers to be significantly smaller, producing a more compact plant footprint and faster dynamic response, industry sources report. (Jinan municipal press materials; CGTN)
Manufacturers and project partners claim substantial performance gains versus existing waste‑heat steam systems. Several accounts put overall power generation efficiency improvements at more than 85 percent and net electricity output gains in excess of 50 percent over the sinter waste‑heat steam plants that have been typical in steel production. The Guizhou project’s developers project an annual uplift of roughly 70 million kilowatt‑hours and an incremental revenue benefit on the order of 30 million yuan. (China Daily; Jinan/Shandong reports)
The Nuclear Power Institute of China led development of the technology alongside industrial partners, seeking to overcome the persistent technical barrier of economically exploiting medium‑ to high‑temperature heat sources at small and medium scales. CNNC has also begun work on a follow‑on demonstration that integrates molten salt thermal storage with sCO2 power generation, a project slated for completion by 2028 and pitched as a path toward hybrid applications such as solar thermal power. (China National Nuclear Corporation)
For industrial decarbonisation strategists the appeal is threefold: higher thermal‑to‑electric conversion efficiency at modest scales, a smaller balance‑of‑plant that eases site integration within constrained industrial yards, and simplified mechanical layouts that may reduce operations and maintenance burdens. According to the Institute of Mechanics, the greater CO2 density compared with steam enables that compactness and, consequently, offers more flexible siting options for retrofits. (Institute of Mechanics; CNNC)
Beyond steel and solar thermal, proponents highlight potential synergy with nuclear power. Research organisations have been exploring sCO2 cycles as high‑efficiency secondary loops for advanced reactors because the compact turbomachinery and high cycle efficiency could lower capital and operational costs for small modular reactors and other designs. The Guizhou commercialisation is therefore being framed as proof‑of‑concept for broader low‑carbon power conversion applications. (CNNC; industry commentary)
Caveats remain. Independent cost assessments, long‑term reliability data and lifecycle emissions analyses have not yet been made widely available, and real‑world performance will need to be validated over multiple years and across diverse feedstock temperatures and duty cycles. Analysts caution that scaling from a successful demonstration to mass deployment requires supply‑chain readiness for high‑strength materials, precision manufacturing of sCO2 turbomachinery, and standards for safe operation under high pressures and temperatures.
Nevertheless, for companies pursuing industrial electrification and waste‑heat recovery, the Liupanshui project offers a new option to consider in decarbonisation portfolios. According to project participants, the commercial start‑up confirms that sCO2 cycles can move beyond research prototypes into operating assets, opening a route to capture thermal losses that have long gone unused across heavy industry. (China National Nuclear Corporation; China Daily)
- https://china-environment-news.net/2026/02/02/china-brings-worlds-first-super-critical-co2-generator-using-industrial-waste-heat-into-operation/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://en.cnnc.com.cn/2025-12/31/c_1152376.htm – On December 20, 2025, the world’s first commercial supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) power generator began operation in Liupanshui, Guizhou province, China. Dubbed ‘Chaotan One,’ this 2×15 MW generator employs CO₂ instead of steam to transfer waste heat, marking a significant advancement in efficient energy utilisation. Developed by the Nuclear Power Institute of China (NPIC) and its partners, the system addresses global technical challenges in harnessing medium- and high-temperature heat sources at small to medium power scales. Its successful deployment signifies the first global transition of supercritical CO₂ power technology from laboratory research to commercial application, representing a milestone in integrated innovation involving government, industry, academia, research, and application sectors. Beyond this project, CNNC has initiated a ‘Molten Salt Energy Storage + Supercritical CO₂ Power Generation’ demonstration project, expected to complete by 2028, with potential applications in solar thermal power generation.
- https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202512/20/WS694636c7a310d6866eb2fa6b.html – The world’s first commercial supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) power generator commenced operations in Southwest China’s Guizhou province on December 20, 2025. Known as ‘Chaotan One,’ this generator uses CO₂ instead of steam to transfer heat, addressing a longstanding technical bottleneck in efficiently utilising small-to-medium scale thermal energy sources. The system offers a significant performance leap over traditional sintering waste heat steam power technologies, with overall power generation efficiency increased by more than 85 percent and net electricity generation improved by over 50 percent. This advancement marks a significant milestone in the global transition toward high-efficiency waste heat recovery.
- https://english.jinan.gov.cn/art/2025/12/23/art_108325_4791421.html – A Jinan-based company has contributed to the world’s first supercritical CO₂ power generator, which began operation in Guizhou province on December 20, 2025. The ‘Chaotan One’ generator uses CO₂ instead of steam to transfer heat, achieving a density similar to liquid when pressure exceeds 73 atmospheres and temperature exceeds 31 degrees Celsius, enabling it to store more energy. The supercritical CO₂ power cycle used in the project boasts higher efficiency, faster response times, and a more compact design. The generator is expected to boost overall efficiency by over 85 percent and net output by more than 50 percent, generating about 70 million more kilowatt-hours annually and adding 30 million yuan ($4.26 million) in revenue.
- https://shandong.chinadaily.com.cn/2025-12/26/c_1150751.htm – A Jinan-based company has played a significant role in the development of the world’s first supercritical CO₂ power generator, which began operation in Guizhou province on December 20, 2025. The ‘Chaotan One’ generator employs CO₂ instead of steam to transfer heat, achieving a density similar to liquid when pressure exceeds 73 atmospheres and temperature exceeds 31 degrees Celsius, enabling it to store more energy. The supercritical CO₂ power cycle used in the project offers higher efficiency, faster response times, and a more compact design. The generator is expected to boost overall efficiency by over 85 percent and net output by more than 50 percent, generating about 70 million more kilowatt-hours annually and adding 30 million yuan ($4.26 million) in revenue.
- https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-12-20/World-s-1st-commercial-supercritical-CO-power-unit-starts-in-Guizhou-1JfNyqa8C1a/p.html – A groundbreaking supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) power generation unit entered commercial operation on December 20, 2025, in Liupanshui, Southwest China’s Guizhou Province. The ‘Chaotan-1’ unit uses innovative thermoelectric conversion technology, converting liquid CO₂ into a supercritical state through heating and pressurisation, which then drives the generator to produce electricity. This system achieves an increase of over 85 percent in power generation efficiency and a rise of more than 50 percent in net electricity output, while reducing site area requirements by half. Beyond this application, supercritical CO₂ technology holds broad potential for use in solar power and other fields.
- https://english.scio.gov.cn/chinavoices/2025-12/22/content_118239892.html – A set of supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) power generation units commenced commercial operation on December 20, 2025, in Guizhou province, Southwest China, marking the country’s pioneering commercial application of this innovative technology. The unit, located at a plant operated by Shougang Shuicheng Iron and Steel (Group) Co., Ltd. in Liupanshui city, constitutes a demonstration project for supercritical CO₂ power generation technology utilising sinter waste heat. Each unit boasts a power generation capacity of 15 megawatts, addressing a longstanding technical bottleneck in the efficient utilisation of small-to-medium scale thermal energy sources.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article reports on a development from December 2025, with the earliest known publication date of similar content being December 20, 2025. ([chinadaily.com.cn](https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202512/20/WS694636c7a310d6866eb2fa6b.html?utm_source=openai)) The narrative appears original, with no evidence of being republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. However, the article includes updated data but recycles older material, which raises concerns about freshness. ([english.jinan.gov.cn](https://english.jinan.gov.cn/art/2025/12/23/art_108325_4791421.html?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes attributed to various sources. However, no online matches were found for these quotes, making independent verification challenging. This lack of verifiable sources raises concerns about the authenticity of the quotes.
Source reliability
Score:
5
Notes:
The article originates from a niche publication, China Environment News, which may not be widely recognised. The lead source appears to be summarising content from other publications, including China Daily and China National Nuclear Corporation, which are more reputable. ([chinadaily.com.cn](https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202512/20/WS694636c7a310d6866eb2fa6b.html?utm_source=openai)) This raises concerns about the independence and reliability of the source.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about the supercritical CO₂ generator’s efficiency improvements and economic benefits are plausible and align with industry trends. However, the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets and the absence of specific factual anchors (e.g., names, institutions, dates) reduce the score. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and resembles typical corporate language.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents a development from December 2025 regarding China’s first supercritical CO₂ generator using industrial waste heat. However, concerns about the freshness of the content, the authenticity of the quotes, the reliability and independence of the sources, and the lack of independent verification sources lead to a FAIL verdict. Editors should exercise caution and seek additional independent verification before publishing.
