October 7, 2024
Des Plaines, IL

The 10-megawatt (MWe) Supercritical Transformational Electric Power (STEP) Demo pilot plant in San Antonio, Texas, has successfully completed phase 1 testing, demonstrating operability, efficiency, and commercial readiness of the supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) power cycle. This significant advancement can revolutionize power generation with cleaner, lower-cost, and resilient electricity production. SCO₂ power cycles can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 180 million metric tons annually by 2050, accounting for 12% of current emissions from U.S. electric power generation.

The STEP Demo project, led by GTI Energy in collaboration with Southwest Research Institute, GE Vernova’s Advanced Research, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, and several industry partners, is the world’s largest and most advanced indirectly fired SCO₂ power plant designed to demonstrate and validate the sCO₂ Brayton power cycle. SCO₂ technology operates using a wide range of low- and zero-emission heat sources and is capable of quick response to changes in power demand.

“GTI Energy is committed to advancing breakthrough technologies that deliver low-emission, resilient, and lower-cost energy solutions,” said Don Stevenson, Vice President of Carbon Management and Conversion, GTI Energy. “The success of this project underscores the potential of sCO₂ technology to transform the future of power generation, bringing us one step closer to commercializing innovations that will drive more sustainable and resilient energy systems.”

During phase 1 testing, the plant achieved full operational speed of its turbine at 27,000 RPM operating at 500°C. It generated 4 MWe of grid synchronized power—enough to supply electricity to 4,000 homes. The data collected from the pilot plant will optimize the design, performance, and operability of future sCO₂ power systems, laying the foundation for widespread commercial deployment.

“Achievement of the simple cycle max milestone is highly encouraging both for the project and commercialization of sCO₂ power cycle technology. This is the largest scale demonstration of the technology to date and, because the plant utilizes turbomachinery and process equipment that are representative of commercial implementation, it also demonstrates a scalable technology pathway to larger applications in the 10s-100s MW range,” according to John Crane, Advanced Turbines Technology Manager at the National Energy Technology Laboratory.

Following this milestone, the STEP Demo project will enter its final phase, which will involve reconfiguring the plant to enhance efficiency and increase energy output. It will operate at 715°C and demonstrate a Recompression Closed Brayton Cycle (RCBC) configuration. Upon completion, the facility is expected to generate 10 MWe hourly, enough to power 10,000 homes.

This pioneering project demonstrates the potential of sCO₂ technology to drive a closed-loop power cycle using less fuel and water, with the potential for zero-emission power generation and effective integration of renewable energy sources into the grid. The $169 million facility is a joint industry program that remains open for new partners to join and obtain deep technical insights into the technology and actual operating data.

About STEP Demo
The STEP Demo pilot facility will demonstrate a fully integrated electricity-generating power plant using transformational sCO₂-based power cycle technology that can offer dramatically improved size, performance, economics, and operational flexibility with less environmental impact. OEMs, engineering companies, and power plant owners/operators from around the globe are invited to join this open project to gain a better understanding of how sCO₂ technology can improve high-efficiency power generation.

Led by GTI Energy along with Southwest Research Institute, GE Vernova’s Advanced Research, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, the project includes contributions from ten industry partners, ranging from domestic and international utilities to leading technology institutes. The partnership includes American Electric Power, Southern Company Services, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (Australia), EGAT (Thailand), Engie (France), Korean Electric Power Company, Natural Resources Canada, Petrobras (Brazil), Spectrum Impact (India), and the state of Texas TECQ office.

About National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)
NETL is the U.S. Department of Energy’s only Government-Owned, Government-Operated Laboratory. NETL focuses on the discovery, development, and deployment of technology solutions to enhance the nation’s energy foundation and protect the environment for future generations. These advanced technologies enable fossil fuels to produce the clean, reliable, and affordable energy needed to support increased domestic manufacturing, improve infrastructure, enhance global competitiveness, revitalize the workforce, and free the U.S. from dependence on foreign oil.

About GTI Energy
GTI Energy is a leading technology development organization. Our trusted team works to scale impactful solutions that shape energy transitions by leveraging gases, liquids, infrastructure, and efficiency. We embrace systems thinking, innovation, and collaboration to develop, scale, and deploy the technologies needed for low-carbon, low-cost energy systems. GTI Energy leads the STEP Demo project as the prime contractor with the U.S. Department of Energy/National Energy Technology Laboratory.

About Southwest Research Institute
Southwest Research Institute is a premier independent, nonprofit research and development organization using multidisciplinary services to provide solutions to some of the world’s most challenging scientific and engineering problems. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, SwRI occupies more than 1,500 acres, providing over 2.3 million square feet of laboratories, test facilities, workshops, and offices for approximately 3,000 employees who perform contract work for government and industry clients. SwRI is the host and operator of the STEP Demo plant.

About GE Vernova
GE Vernova's Advanced Research business is an innovation powerhouse, operating at the intersection of science and creativity to turn cutting edge research into impactful realities. Advanced Research collaborates with GE Vernova’s businesses across a broad range of technical disciplines to accelerate the energy transition.

GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV) is a purpose-built global energy company that includes Power, Wind, and Electrification segments and is supported by its accelerators. Building on over 130 years of experience tackling the world’s challenges, GE Vernova is uniquely positioned to help lead the energy transition by continuing to electrify the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it. GE Vernova helps customers power economies and deliver electricity that is vital to health, safety, security, and improved quality of life. GE Vernova is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., with more than 80,000 employees across 100+ countries around the world. Supported by the Company’s purpose, The Energy to Change the World, GE Vernova technology helps deliver a more affordable, reliable, sustainable, and secure energy future.